university  of 

Connecticut 

libraries 


5 


BOOK    598.?9746.M55  1R   el 
MERRIAM    #    REVIEW   OF   BIRDS    OF 
COMNFCTiruT 


3    T1S3    00m7MbM    M 


A   REVIEW 


OF   THE 


BIRDS   OF  CONNECTICUT. 


BT 


C.   HART    MERRIAM, 


NEW   HAVEN : 

TUTTLE,    MOREHOUSE    &    TAYLOR,    PRINTERS. 

1877. 


h.. 


[From  the  Transactions  op  the  Connecticut  Academy,  Vol.  IV,  ls77j. 


A  Review  of  the  Birds  of  Connecticut,  with  Remarks  on 
THEIR  Habits.      By  C.   Hart  Merriam. 


Read  June  20,  1877. 


The  little  State  of  Connecticut,  forming,  as  it  does,  the  soutlnvest- 
ern  corner  of  New  England,  and  lying  between  the  forty-first  and 
forty-second  parallels  (exactly  41°  to  42°  3'  N.),  and  extending,  in  an 
east  and  west  direction,  from  the  meridian  Vl°  55'  to  Ta°  50'  Avest  lon- 
gitude, contains  an  area  of  but  4,074  s(juare  miles.  Nevertheless  it  is 
highly  probable,  so  favorably  is  it  situated,  that  no  equal  area  in  the 
country  can  boast  a  greater  number  of  species  of  birds  than  may  be 
found  within  its  limits.  Indeed,  nearly  half  the  total  number  of 
species  in  the  United  States  have  already  been  detected  inside  its 
borders,  and  it  is  certain  that  future  investigation  will  decidedly 
increase  this  number. 

Zoologically  speaking,  Connecticut  belongs  to  that  division  of 
country  known  as  the  AHeghanian  Fauna.  Still,  as  Mr.  Purdie  has 
said,*  its  southern  border  has  an  evident  tinge  of  the  Carolinian,  and 
I  may  add  that  this  "  tinge"  runs  up  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut 
Rivej-,  extending  completely  through  the  State,  and  even  into  Massa- 
chusetts. 

Some  years  ago  Prof.  A.  E.  Verrill  stated  that  whenever  such 
birds  as  the  Crossbills,  the  Spruce  Partridge  and  the  Canada  Jay 
"  breed  abundantly  in  any  region,  it  may  safely  be  considered  as 
belonging  to  the  Canadian  Fauna."f  With  equal  truth  it  may  be 
said  that  whenever  such  birds  as  the  Worm-eating,  Blue-winged  Yel- 
low, and  Hooded  Warblers,  together  with  the  Large-billed  Water 
Thrush  and  Yellow  breasted  Chat,  breed  regularly  and  in  considerahle 
nuinhers^  the  region  may  safely  be  included  in  the  Carolinian  Fauna. 
That  these  species  are  so  found  in  southei-n  Connecticut — notably 
about  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut  River — is  now  too  well  known 
to  need  further  confirmation. 

The  dividing  lines  between  the  several  flxuna?  are  always  more  or 
less  irregular,   and    never  very  sharply   defined.      The  distribution 

*  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  vii.  No.  11,  p.  693,  Nov.,  1873. 
f  Proceed.  PJssex  Inst.,  vol.  iii,  p.  138.     1883. 
Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Vol.  IV.  1  July,  1877. 


2  C.  H.  MerricDii — Birds  of  Connedicxit. 

of  those  species  l)y  whicli  the  different  faunte  are  distinguished,  is 
unqnestioiiably  governed,  in  great  measure  (as  shown  by  Professor  Ver- 
rill),*  by  the  temperature  during  the  breeding  season,  of  the  regions 
in  which  they  commonly  breed.  Hence  the  dividing  lines  between 
faunae  do  not  follow,  when  placed  on  the  chart,  such  smooth,  regular 
curves  as  serve  to  represent  the  isothermal  lines  (which  show  the 
average  temperature  for  the  entire  year),  but  more  nearly  coincide 
with  lines  drawn  to  indicate  the  average  temperatm-e  during  the 
months  of  April,  May,  and  June, — the  period  in  which  the  great 
majority  of  singing  birds  breed.  It  has  been  stated  by  Professor 
Verrill  that  "  a  line  drawn  upon  the  map  of  Eastern  North  America 
representing  the  mean  temperature  of  50°  F.,  during  these  three 
months,  will  coincide  with  the  southern  boundary  of  the  Canadian 
Fauna,  as  previously  determined  from  the  examination  of  the  birds 
breeding  in  that  sub-division.  Another  line  representing  the  tem- 
perature of  65°  will  represent  the  soiithern  boundary  of  the  Allegha- 
nian  Faiina,"*  as  distinguished  from  the  Carolinian. 

The  fact  that,  during  the  thirty-four  years  that  have  elapsed  since 
the  publication  of  Linsley's  ^'■Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Coniiecticut,'''' 
no  enumeration  of  the  birds  of  this  State  has  appeared,  is  sufficient 
excuse  for  the  present  attempt.  Moreover,  the  Connecticut  Acad- 
emy resolved,  some  time  since,  to  publish  a  series  of  papers  on  the 
fauna  of  this  State,  and  Professor  Verrill  did  me  the  honor  to  request 
that  I  should  prepare,  as  the  first  of  this  series,  "  A  Review  of  the 
Birds  of  Connecticut,"  which  I  have  done  as  well  as  the  limited 
time  at  my  disposal  would  permit. 

In  the  year  1861,  Dr.  William  Wood,  of  East  Windsor  Hill,  Conn., 
published,  in  the  Hartford  Times,  a  series  of  twenty-one  admirable 
and  most  interesting  articles  on  our  "  Birds  of  Prey,"  and  it  is  nmch 
to  be  regretted  that  he  did  not,  in  like  manner,  take  up  the  remaining 
groups.  A  few  brief  notices  of  the  occurrence  of  some  of  the  rarer 
species  within  our  limits  have,  from  time  to  time,  appeared  in  the 
American  Naturalist  and  Bulletin  of  the  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club, 
but  nothing  like  a  systematic  list  of  the  birds  oi'  the  State  has  been 
attempted. 

My  object  has  not  been  to  give  the  largest  possible  number  of 
species,  but  to  re])resent  faithfully  our  true  knowledge  of  the  Avi- 
fauna of  Connecticut.  An  acknowledged  fault  with  most  local  lists 
is  that  their  authors  include,  not  only  those  species  Aviiich  have 
actually  been  detected,  but  also  those  which,  from  their  occurrence 

*  Am.  Jour.  Rci.  iuid  Arts,  vol.  xli,  ]>.  210.  (Sooond  Rcrios,)  ISHfi. 


/U 


C.  If.  Mcn-t'fn/t — ninfs  of  <\iiiii<cticut.  3 

ill  neigliborino-  districts,  may,  at  somo  fiitiirc  time,  be-  looked  for 
with  a  degree  of  success  directly  proportionate  to  the  ornitlio-distri- 
butional  knowledge  of  the  writer.  In  the  preparation  of  the  follow- 
ing list  I  have  scnipidonsly  examined  the  evidence  on  wliich  each 
species  stands,  and  have  rigorously  excluded  all  those  whose  occur- 
rence rests  on  insufficient  proof 

In  a  note,  under  each  genus  or  family,  will  he  found  those  species 
which  should,  and  ])rol)ably  do,  occur,  but  which,  owing  to  the  small 
number  of  collectors  in  this  State,  have  not  as  yet  been  detected. 
Information  has  been  solicited  from  all,  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to 
ascertain,  who  are  familiar  with  our  birds — Avhether  active  collectors 
or  not — and  I  take  this  means  of  expressing  my  thanks  and  gratitude 
for  the  many  favors  received,  believing,  at  the  same  time,  that  they 
should  not  be  regarded  as  mere  personal  favors,  but  as  real  contribu- 
tions to  science,  for  in  preparing  this  list  I  act  but  as  the  exponent 
of  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge  concerning  the  Inrds  of  Connec- 
ticut. I  am  indebted  to  my  friends,  Mr.  George  Bird  Grinnell,  Mr. 
A.  J.  Dayan,  Prof  Wm.  D.  Whitney,  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Hotchkiss,  Mr. 
Thomas  B.  Osborne,  Mr.  E.  B.  Wilson,  Dr.  F.  W.  Hall,  Walter  R. 
Nichols,  the  Stadtmtiller  Brothers,  Robert  F.  Morris,  and  P>ed.  Sum- 
ner Smith,  for  information  relating  to  species  found  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  New  Haven;  to  Capt.  O.  N.  Brooks,  of  Faulkner's  Island 
Light,  for  a  list  of  the  water  birds  of  that  portion  of  the  Sound ; 
to  Messrs.  W.  W.  Coe  and  John  H.  Sage,  of  Portland,  Erwin 
I.  Shores,  of  Suffield,  and  J.  N,  Clark,  of  Saybrook,  Conn.,  for  notes 
on  the  species  observed  in  the  Connecticut  V^ alley ;  to  Dr.  William 
Wood,  of  East  Windsor  Hill,  Conn.,  for  valuable  information  on  the 
time  of  occurrence  and  relative  abundance  of  many  of  the  rarer 
species — especially  in  regard  to  the  Hawks  and  Owls ;  to  Prof  G. 
Brown  Goode,  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  not  only  for  throwing  open  for 
my  inspection  the  cases  of  birds  contained  in  the  Museum  of  Wesleyau 
University,  but  also  for  laboriously  searching  the  Museum  Catalogue 
for  records  of  the  capture  of  the  rarer  species  within  the  State ;  to 
Josiah  G.  Ely,  Esq.,  for  notes  on  the  rarer  species  found  about  Lyme, 
New  London  County,  Conn. ;  and  to  Drs.  D.  Crary  and  D.  Crary,  Jr., 
of  Hartford,  Conn.,  for  information  concerning  the  less  common  birds 
of  that  vicinity.  To  each  of  these  gentlemen  due  credit  is  given  under 
the  species  to  which  their  notes  i)ertain.  I  am  also  under  obligations 
to  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway,  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  Dr.  Thomas 
M.  Bi-e\ver,  of  Boston,  and  Mr.  William  Brewster,  of  Cambridge,  for 
the  identification  of  birds  and  eggs,  and  for  other  information. 


4  G.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

My  thanks  are  esjjecially  due  to  W.  W.  Coe,  John  H.  Sage,  Erwin 
I.  Sliores,  Thomas  B.  Osborne,  Capt.  O.  N.  Brooks,  and  the  Stadt- 
miiller  Brothers,  for  placing  their  mauiiscript  notes  at  my  disposal ; 
also,  to  Professors  A.  E.  Veri-ill,  Sidney  I.  Smith,  and  Franklin 
B.  Dexter,  for  the  use  of  books  not  in  the  College  Library  ;  and 
to  Dr.  William  H.  Hotchkiss  for  aid  in  the  preparation  of  the  special 
lists  appended  to  this  paper,  as  well  as  for  much  kindly  assistance 
rendered  from  time  to  time  during  the  progress  of  the  work. 

Numerous  references  have  been  made  to  the  wi'itings  of  others, 
and  I  hold  myself  I'esponsible  for  all  dates  and  statements  of  any 
kind,  where  the  contrary  is  not  expressly  stated.  Neither  have 
quotations  l)een  omitted,  when  they  seemed  desirable,  either  for  the 
value  of  the  facts  they  contain,  or  for  their  antiquity ;  and,  as  a 
rule,  I  have  taken  i)ains  to  refer  to  the  older  and  less  accessible 
works,  rather  than  to  those  with  which  we  are  all  familiar. 

Although  Ornithology,  as  a  science,  is,  in  this  country,  of  compara- 
tively recent  date,  still  that  the  birds  of  New  England  early  attracted 
the  attention  of  our  foi-efathers  is  evident  from  their  writings.  In 
the  year  1616,  Capt.  John  Smith  said  that  there  were,  in  New  Eng- 
land, "  Eagles,  Gripes,  diners  sorts  of  Ilaukes,  Cranes,  Geese,  Brauts, 
Cormorants,  Ducks,  Sheldrakes,  Teale,  Meawes,  Guls,  Turkies,  Diue- 
doppers,  and  many  other  sorts,  whose  names  I  knowe  not."*  And  a 
few  years  later  (1622)  one  William  Hilton  writes  that  the  land 
"  aff cords  beasts  of  diners  sorts,  and  great  flocks  of  Turkies,  Quailes 
Pigeo7is  and  Patriges:  many  great  lakes  abounding  icithflsh,  fowls, 
Beuers  and  Otters.  The  sea  affoords  us  as  great  plenty  of  all  excellent 
sorts  of  sea-fish,  as  the  riuers  and  lies  doth  varietie  of  loild  fovole  of 
most  vseful  sorts.''^\  And  there  are  numerous  others  of  a  like  nature, 
some  of  which  have  been  reproduced  under  the  species  to  which  they 
refer. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  many  birds  once  common  along  the  coast, 
and  some  throughout  tlie  greater  part  of  New  England,  are  now 
either  extremely  rare  or  not  to  be  met  with  at  all  within  its  limits, 
while  a  few  sj)ecies  have  unquestionably  increased  in  numbers  since 
the  country  has  become  settled.  Among  the  former  class  may  be 
mentioned  the  Great  Auk  {^ilca  iinj^ennis),  the  Crane  {Grus  Gana- 
densis,  awd  perhaps  G.Americana  also),  the  Swan  (Gygnus  Ameri- 
canns,  and  perha])s  G.  buccinator),  the  Wild  Turkey  (Melcagris  gallo- 
pavo),  the  Pinnated  Grouse  or  Prairie  Chicken  {Gujndonia  cicpido), 

*  A  Description  of  New  England,  by  Capt.  John  Smith,     p.  IG.     1616. 
t  New  England's  Trials,     p.  14.     1622. 


('.  //  Mo-riam— Birds  of  Contiecdvitt.  5 

the  Swallo\v-t:iile<l  Kito  {Nauclerus  forjicatns) ,  the  W-.ywu  {('orm.s 
cora.r)  now  foininon  only  in  norlluTii  New  England,  tlie  Mockiiig- 
bii-d  {Mimus polyylottiis),  and  many  otliers.  That  these  hirds  were 
common  here  two  or  tliree  Inindred  years  m^o  is  clear  irom  tiic 
numerous  references  to  them  in  tlie  writings  of  the  time.  And  duriii<'- 
this  period  many  others  have  greatly  decreased  in  numbers— such  as 
the  Pigeon  (Ectopistes  niigratoria),  Pileated  Woodpecker  {Hyloto- 
mus pUeatHs),  black-birds,  water  fowl,  and  waders  of  all  descriptions.* 
The  disappearance  of  some  of  these  birds  is  readily  accounted  for  by 
the  advance  of  civilization  with  its  concomitant  evils — destruction 
of  forests,  increased  use  of  fire  arms,  etc. — but  in  other  cases  the 
cause  is  less  easily  explained. 

Few  people,  living  away  from  the  coast,  have  any  idea  that  hun 
dreds  of  thousands  of  birds  are  killed  each  year,  durino-  migrations 
by  flying  against  lighthouse  towers.  Capt.  O.  N.  Brooks,  of  Faulk- 
ner's Island  Light,  tells  me  that  between  two  and  three  hundred  dead 
birds  Avere  picked  up  at  the  foot  of  the  tower  on  the  morning  of  May 
16th,  1877,  and  that  at  the  same  time  thousands  of  living  ones 
stopped  at  the  Island,  devouring  all  the  tender  plants  and  newlv 
sown  seeds  in  his  garden.  During  the  same  night  about  three  hun- 
dred birds  killed  themselves  against  the  light  at  the  entrance  of  New 
Haven  Bay,  and  the  daily  papers  stated  that  over  seven  hundred 
were  picked  up  on  the  decks  of  one  of  the  New  York  steamers. 
When  we  take  into  consideration  the  number  of  light-houses  and 
steamships  along  our  whole  coast  it  becomes  clear  that  the  number 
of  birds  that  perish  annually  by  this  means  is  simply  immense. 
Nearly  all  our  common,  and  many  rare,  migrants  are  found  among 
the  dead,  but  the  Maryland  Yellow-throats  ( Geothlypis  trichas) 
greatly  predominate,  constituting  full  one  third  of  the  total  number 
examined.  It  is  lamentable  that  this  wholesale  slaughter  of  our 
song-birds  seems  to  be  unavoidable. 

The  nomenclature  and  arrangement  of  species  adopted  in  the  pres- 
ent paper  is  that  given  in  Coues'  "  Key  to  North  American  Birds," 
with  such  corrections  as  have  since  appeared  in  his  "  Birds  of  the 
Northwest"  and  elsewhere. 

*  See  also  an  interesting  article  by  J.  A.  Allen  in  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club,  vol.  i, 
No.  3.     Sept.  1876. 


C.  H.  Merrhini — Birds  of  Connecticut. 


A.  General  List,  giving  times  of  occurrence  and  relative  abundance 
of  the  species  ;  together  vnth  notes  on  the  habits  and  distribution 
of  some  of  the  less  common  forms. 

Family,  TURDID^. 

1 .  Tardus  migratOriuS  Linue.         Robin. 

An  abundant  summer  resident;  breeds  abundantly,  and  several 
times  during  the  season.  A  few  winter.  The  summer  residents 
arrive  during  the  middle  and  latter  part  of  February  (Feb.  18,  1876; 
Feb.  27,  1875),  and  remain  in  considerable  numbers  till  near  the  close 
of  November. 

2.  TurduS   mUStelinuS  Gmeliu.         Wood  Thrush. 

A  common  summer  resident ;  breeds.  Arrives  about  jNIay  3d 
(common  before  the  10th),  remaining  till  October.  Mr.  John  H.  Sage, 
of  Portland,  Conn.,  informs  me  that  he  and  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark,  and 
also  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe,  have  found  its  eggs  "  covered  with  fine  black 
specks."  Mr.  Fred.  Sumner  Smith,  of  this  city,  has  recently  shown 
me  a  large  egg  of  this  species  which  is  marked  with  a  few  small, 
brownish-red  spots.  On  sending  the  c^g  to  Ur.  Brewer,  I  received 
the  following :  "  The  spots  I  never  noticed  before,  but  any  e^^, 
always  excepting  a  woodpecker's,  is  liable  to  be  marked  by  minute 
eifusions  of  colored  lymph  of  the  parent,  in  its  exclusion."  Mr. 
Smith  tells  me  that  the  nest,  which  contained  these  speckled  eggs, 
was  placed  on  a  railway  bridge,  and  within  six  inches  of  the  rail. 
A  number  of  trains  pass  daily  over  this  bridge. 

3.  TurduS   Pallasi  Cabanis.         Hermit  Tiirush. 

Connnon  during  its  migrations,  particularly  so  in  the  fall.  Arrives 
from  the  South  before  the  middle  of  April  (April  7,  1877,  Coe;  A{)ril 
6,  1875,  Sage;  A[)ril  13,  1874,  Sage;  April  14,  1876,  Osborne;  April 
16,  1877,  April  10,  1875),  remaining  till  early  in  May;  on  their 
return  are  with  us  from  early  in  (Jctober  till  the  latter  part  of  Novem- 
ber (Nov.  14,  18,  20,  1875).  The  woods  abound  with  them  during 
tlic  miildU'  and  latter  part  of  October. 

4.  TurdUS    SwainSOni  Cabanis.         Olive-backod  Tlu-ush. 

Coiiuuoii  (luring  its  migrations,  but  never  so  almndant  as  tJu'  last. 
It  is  met  with   in   spring  from  May  lOtli  to  26tli,  and  in  autumn  from 


C  If.  MerrliOii — Binl-<  of  (Unuiecticnt.  7 

Sept.  4tli  (1S74,  Hall)  to  Oct.   l:!(li.      In  tlic  iall  it  is  iK.t  imcnininniij y 

fdund   ill   flocks  of  a  dozen   or  tit'trcu   in    low   swanipy    w is    w  hcic 

there  is  an  almndance  of  nnderuiow  tli. 

All.  TurduS  SwainSOni,  var.  Aliciae  (Baird)  Coues.     Gray-chceki'd  Tlirnsli. 

Occurs,  during  migrations,  witli  tlie  foregoing,  and  is  more  coimnon 
in  tlie  vicinity  of  New  Haven — ^judging  from  tlie  proportionate  niiiii- 
l)er  of  skins  in  private  collections  about  here.  Near  Portland,  Comi., 
on  the  contrary,  the  true  S^oainsoni  type  seems  to  predominate — as 
shown  l)y  speciinens  in  the  cabinets  of  W.  W.  Coe  and  John  H.  Sage. 

5.  TurdUS  fuSCeSCens  Stephens.         Wilson's  Tlirush. 

A  summer  resident;  breeds.  Arrives  early  in  May  (May  S).  Com- 
mon in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  New  Haven,  especially  during  the 
spring  migrations. 

6.  MimUS  polyglottUS  (Linne)  Boie.         Mocking-bird. 

A  rare  summer  visitant;  used  to  breed  here  and  may  occasionally'' 
do  so  now.  Mr.  Geo.  Bird  Grinnell  has  taken  it  near  Milford,  Conn. 
Mr.  Erwin  I.  Shores  wiites  me,  on  the  authority  of  Milton  T.ester, 
that  it  has  been  killed  at  Suftield,  Conn.  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark  thinks  that 
it  bred  pretty  regularly  at  Saybrook,  Conn.,  many  years  ago;  and  I 
am  informed  by  ]Mr.  Osborne  that  he  saw  one  above  the  Whitney 
Lakes,  near  New  Haven,  May  30th,  1877.  Also  taken  late  in  the  fall 
of  18V4,  by  Mr.  William  Brewster,  near  Concord,  Mass.f  "Stratford 
and  New  Haven,"  Linsley. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  Mocking-birds  were  once  com- 
mon in  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,'  and  Massachusetts,  if  not  still 
farther  north.  In  an  appendix  to  the  Mass.  Agricultural  Kejiort  for 
1863,  Samuels  gives  it  as  a  "rare  summer  visitant,"  stating  that  it 
"occasionally  breeds;"  and  in  1864  Allen  says  that  they  "have  been 
known  to  breed  in  Springfield  several  times  within  five  years,  and  in 
1860  two  pairs  nested  here.  June  20tli,  18G0,  I  found  a  nest  contain- 
ing three  freshly  laid  eggs Locality,  a  sandy  field  gi-owing 

up  to  pitch  pines,  in  one  of  which  the  nest  was  placed,  about  three 
feet  from  the  ground."^ 

*  A  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Connecticut,  arranged  according  to  their  natural 
families;  by  Rev.  James  H.  Linsley,  published  in  Am.  Jour,  of  Sci.  an.l  Arts, 
vol.  xliv,  No.  2,  p.  255.     April,  1843. 

•f-  Rod  and  Gun,  vol.  v,  No.  24,  p.  370,  Mar.  13,  ISTo. 

X  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  found  at  Si)ringfic]d.  Mass.,  by  J.  A.  Allen,    pp.  r,7-S.    isr,4. 


8  C.  H.  MerrUnn — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

7.  Mimus   Carolinensis   (Linne)  Gray.     Cat-bird. 

All  :il>mi(laiit  summer  resident,  arriving  early  in  May  (May  4, 1877, 
Portland;  May  5,  1874,  Sage;  May  6,  1876,  C.  H.  M.,  and  6,  1877, 
E.  B.  Wilson),  and  remaining  till  November  (Nov.  4,  1874  and 
1875);  breeds. 

8.  Harporhynchus  rufus  (Linne)  Cabanis.         Brown  Thrush;   "Thrasher." 
A  common  summer  resident ;  breeds.     Arrives  during  the  last    of 

April  or  first  of  May  (April  80,  1876,  Osborne;  May  1,  1877)  depart- 
ing early  in  October  (Oct.  2). 

Family,  SAXICOLID^E. 

9.  Sialia  Sialis  (Linne)  Haldeman.         Common  Bhiebird. 

Resident ;  abundant  during  summer  ;  lireeds  in  holes  in  trees  and 
posts,  etc.  They  arrive  early  in  February  (Feb.  8,  1876),  remaining 
till  about  the  middle  of  November  (Nov.  13,  1876).  Have  found  it 
singing  as  early  as  March  5th.  Though  generally  evenly  distributed 
and  everywhere  a  common  species,  Mr.  Shores  "  could  not  find  it  in 
1872"  about  Suffield,  Conn.*  A  few  small  flocks  frequently  winter 
in  secluded  spots. 

Family,  SYLVIID..E. 

10.  Regulus  calendula  (Linne)  Licht.         E,uby-cro\vned  Kinglet. 
Common  during  its  migrations.     Arrives  about  the  middle  of  April 

(April    11,    1875,   Sage);    remaining   till   the    middle   of  May    (16, 
Osborne).     Have  taken  it  in  the  fall  from  Oct.  l;Uh  to  Nov.  24th. 

1  1 .  Regulus  satrapa  Lielitenstein.         Golden-crested  Kinglet. 

A  winter  resident;  have  seen  it  at  repeated  intervals  from  Oct.  13th 
till  spring  (May).  Commonly  found,  with  tlie  preceding,  associated 
with  small  flocks  of  chickadees  (/'anwoiWcajOit/^/s),  and  frequently  ac- 
companied by  a  few  nuthatclu's  of  both  sjx'cies  (AVY/r^  Cavolinensis 
and  S.  Canadensis). 

1  2.  Polioptila  CSerulea  (Linne)  Sclater.         Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher. 

A  rare  summer  visitant.  "Stratford,"  Linsley.  "Two  were  shot 
at  Wauregan  (Windham  County),  Conn.,  by  aMr.  C.  jNI.  Carpenter, — 
a  male  in  1874  and  a  female  in  1876.     Three  or  four  were  seen  by  me 

*  MS.  notes  of  I'lrwin  1.  Sliores,  Esq. 


C  II.  Merrlidu — IJin/s  of  VoniiectlcKt.  9 

at  Prox  uK'iicc,  K.  L,  May  2:^(1,  1875."*  .Mr.  Juiicks  wriU-s  ww  that 
the  Connecticut  reeoivl  is  a  mistake,  as  ;ill  the  specimens  wi'iv  taken 
near  Providence,  Iv.  T. 

Mr.  William  IJrewster  thus  speaks  of  their  habits  and  appearance 
in  the  south  :  "  When  seen  one  liiindred  feet  or  more  above  the  earth 
they  remind  one  more  of  insects  than  of  birds,  so  active,  and  so  very 
frail  and  slender  do  they  seem.  In  motions,  they  bear,  perhaps,  a 
greater  resemblance  to  the  lledslart  {Setophaga  ruticUlu)  than  to 
any  other  bird,  like  him  launchiny-  out  frequently  after  insects  and 
alighting  with  spread  tail  and  drooping  Avings.  They  have  withal 
an  impertinent,  quizzical  air,  savoring  strongly  of  Cat-bird  ways; 
the  song  is  indeed  quite  that  of  the  latter  bird,  but  in  miniature  (if  I 
may  apply  such  an  expression  to  sound),  a  quaint  mocking  little 
strain,  continued  half  a  minute  or  more  at  a  time,  and  full  of  mewings 
and  harsh  chatters,  with  an  occasional  full  round  note,  but  altogether 
so  feeble  as  scarcely  to  be  audible  at  twenty  yards'  distance.  The 
note  used  by  both  sexes  is  a  harsh  but  rather  faint  lisp."f 

Family,  PARID^. 

13.  Lophophanes  bicolor  (Linne)  Bonaparte.        Tufted  Titmouse. 

A  rare  visitor  from  the  south.  "  New  Haven,"  Linsley.  Josiah  G. 
Ely,  Esq.,  writes  me  from  Lyme,  New  London  Co.,  Conn.,  that  he 
shot  a  Tufted  Titmouse,  Feb.  27th,  1872,  in  that  vicinity  (the  ground 
being  covered  to  a  considerable  depth  with  snow),  and  saw  another 
in  Jan.,  1874.  They  were  found  flitting  about  among  dense  hemlocks 
in  a  very  wild  portion  of  country.  It  has  also  been  taken  near  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  by  Dr.  D.  Crary,  but  must  be  regarded  as  accidental, 
though  a  common  resident  in  northern  New  Jersey  (Elizabeth, 
1871-72).  Also  breeds  on  Long  Island  "seeking  retirement  in  the 
lonely  part  of  the  woods  among  the  heavy  timber."J  It  has  been 
found  as  far  north  as  New  Hampshire.§ 

14.  ParuS  atricapillus  Linne.         Black-capped  Cliickadee. 

A  common  resident ;  breeds  in  holes  in  trees.  Gregarious  except 
durino-  the  breeding  season, 

*Mr.  Jencks  to  H.  A.  Purdie,  see  Bulletin  of  the  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club, 
vol.  ii,  pp.  20  and  21.     Jan.  1877. 

f  Annals  Lyceum  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  vol.  xi,  p.  Ui2,  June,  1875. 

X  Birds  of  Long  Island,  J.  P.  (iiraud,  Jr.     p.  78.     1844. 

§  Belknap's  History  of  New  Hampshire,  vol.  iii,  p.  17.3.     1792. 

Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Vol.  IV.  2  July,  1877. 


]  0  C.  II.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

15.  ParuS  HudSOniCUS  Forster.         Hudsonlan  Chickadee. 

A  rare  accidental  visitor  from  the  iiortli.  In  the  July  (1870)  num- 
ber of  the  Bulletin  Nuttall  Ornith.  Club,  I  called  attention  to  the  first 
instance  of  the  capture  of  this  northern  chickadee  in  Connecticut: 
"On  Nov.  13,  1875,  Mr.  Robert  Morris,  while  shooting  in  a  wooded 
ravine  a  few  miles  from  tOAvn  [New  Haven],  killed  a  female  Hudsonian 
Titmouse  {Parus  Iliidsonieus).  The  specimen  is  now  in  the  collec- 
tion of  Mr.  Thomas  Osborne  of  this  city."  Its  occurrence  so  far  south 
must  be  regarded  as  purely  accidental.  Mr.  Wm.  Brewster  took  a 
specimen  at  Concord,  Mass.,  Oct.  30,  1870.*  This  was  supposed  to  be 
the  most  southern,  and  only  Massachussetts,  record,  but  as  long  ago 
as  1839,  Peabody  tells  us  that  it  "  has  been  found  by  S.  Eliot  Greene, 
Esq.,  near  his  house  in  Brookline."f 

Family,  SITTID^E. 

1  6.   Sitta  CarolinensiS  (Gmelin)  Latham.         White-bellied  Nuthatch. 

Resident ;  breeds.  Not  particularly  abundant  immediately  about 
New  Haven,  especially  in  sunmier.  Its  nest,  however,  has  been 
taken  within  city  limits  by  the  Stadtmiiller  Brothers. 

17.  Sitta  Canadensis  Linne.         Red-belHed   Xulhatch. 

A  tolerably  common  winter  resident,  arriving  about  the  middle  of 
October  (Oct.  13,  1875,  abundant),  and  remaining  till  after  the  middle 
of  April  (April  19,  1876,  Osborne). 

Family,  CERTHIID^:. 

18.  Certhia  familiaris  Limie.         Browu  Creeper. 

A  rather  common  resident;  breeds.  Particularly  abundant  in  win- 
ter, when  it  may  frecpUMitly  be  si-en  running  about  on  tlie  elms  in  the 
heart  of  the  city. 

Family,  TROG-LODYTID^. 

19.  Troglodytes  aedon  Vielllot.         House  Wren. 

A  summer  resident;  breeds.  Not  abundant.  Arrives  late  in  April 
or  early  in  May  (Apr.  27,  1869,  Hartford;  27,  1877,  Portland;  May 

*Am.  Nat.,  voh  vi,  No.  5.     p.  30G.     May,  18'72. 

f  A  Report  on  the  Ornithology  of  Massac-husctts,  l)y  AVm.  B.  O.  I'eabody.  p.  402. 
1839. 


(\  If.  MerrltDii — liinis  of  <\<inH rt;<uit.  \\ 

2,  18(>.'{;  ;},  IS-ZO;  1,  istil,  1S7:!,  all  rortlan.l,  C'..iiii.,  .1  n...  II.  Sa^^-), 
ri'iiiainiiig  till  late  in  October  (Oct.  2()  and  :30,  1X75). 

20.  Anorthura  troglodytes,  var.  hyemalis  (Vieiii.)  Couos.       winter 

Wren. 

A  winter  resident ;  lather  common  durino-  migiations.  Have  seen 
it  early  in  October  (Oct.  2d),  and  secured  a  specimen  on  tlie  24tli  of 
November,  1875.  ]\Ir.  (Irinnell  has  taken  it  every  month  dnrin<^^ 
winter. 

21.  Telmatodytes  palustris  (Wilson)  Baird.         Lonfr-billod  Marsh  Wrcn. 
A  common  summer  resident;    breeds   abundantly  in    the    brackish 

water  marshes  bordering  the  Quinnipiac  river,  near  New  Haven. 
JVJr.  A.  J.  Dayan  and  myself  found  dozens  of  completed  nests,  a  few 
of  which  contained  from  1  to  5  eggs  each,  on  the  7th  of  June,  ISVG. 
Also  breeds  in  suitable  fresh  water  marshes  throughout  the  State. 

22.  Cistothorus  Stellaris  (Licht.)  Cabanis.         Short-billed  Marsh  Wren. 

A  rather  rare  summer  resident;  breeding  in  suitable  localities  along 
our  southern  border  and  in  the  Connecticut  Valley.  "  New  Haven," 
Linsley.  Dr.  Wood  tells  me  that  it  is  not  common  about  Hartford, 
Conn. ;  and  Mr.  Erwin  I.  Shores  writes  me  that  it  breeds  in  a  marsh 
near  Southwick  (or  Congannick)  Ponds,  in  the  town  of  Suffteld, 
Hartford  Co.,  Conn,  (close  to  the  Massachusetts  border).  Mr.  J.  (4. 
Ely,  of  Lyme,  Conn.,  w^rites  me  that  the  Short-billed  Marsh  Wren 
breeds  abundantly  in  that  vicinity. 

Note. — The  Great  Carolina  Wren,  Thryothorus  Jjudovickmus 
(Latham)  Bonap.,  has  been  known  to  breed  in  Massachusetts*  and  on 
Long  Island,  and  doubtless  occurs,  as  a  rare  summer  resident  from 
the  South,  in  the  Connecticut  Valley,  and  along  our  southern  border. 

.     Family,  ALAUDID^. 

23.  Eremophila  alpestris  (Porst.)  Boie.         Homed  Lark. 

A  winter  resident,  occurring  along  the  shore,  and  also  in  barren, 
sandy,  tracts,  throughout  the  State.  Mr.  Dayan,  Mr.  Osborne,  Mr. 
Grinnell,  and  myself,  have  seen  it  here  in  fall  (Nov.  18,  1874,  C.  H. 
M.)  and  winter,  and  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  has  found  it  at  Portland,  Conn., 
as  late  as  March  26,  (1875). 

*J3ull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club,  vol.  i,  No.  3,  p.  76.     Sept.  1876. 


12  C.  IT.  Merriain — Dinh  of  Connecticut. 

Family,  MOTACILLID.^. 

24.  Anthus  Ludovicianus  (Gmelin)  Licht.         Titlark. 

Common  along  the  coast  during  migrations.  Have  taken  it  as  late 
as  Nov.  14.  It  passes  north  in  the  month  of  May  (Dr.  Wood).  Dr. 
Brewer  says  that  he  has  "  found  it,  sometimes  in  large  flocks,  in  open 
country  near  the  coast,  in  Massachusetts,  in  midwinter."* 

Family,  SYLVICOLID^. 

25.  Mniotilta  varia  (Linne)  Vieillot.         Black-and-wliite  Creeper. 

A  summer  resident ;  breeds.  Particularly  abundant  during  migra- 
tions. Arrives  late  in  April  or  early  in  May  (April  30,  1877,  May  2, 
1876),  remaining  till  October  (Oct.  2).  Mr.  J.  H.  Sage  writes  that, 
in  company  with  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark,  he  took  a  nest  containing  five  eggs 
of  this  species,  at  Saybrook,  Conn.,  May  30,  1877.  1  shot  it  at  New 
Haven  on  June  23,  and  have  seen  several  others  during  the  breeding 
season.  Mr.  Sage  also  took  another  nest  containing  five  eggs 
("  young  well  developed"),  at  Portland,  Conn.,  June  12,  1875. 

26.  Parula  Americana  (Linne)  Bonap.         Blue  Yellow-backed  Warbler. 

A  summer  resident ;  breeds.  One  of  our  commonest  migrants. 
Arrives  early  in  May  (May  2d,  Osborne).  In  the  fall  it  is  very  abun- 
dant during  the  middle  and  latter  part  of  September,  and  I  have  taken 
it  as  late  as  Oct.  13th.  Mr.  W.  W.  Coc  showed  me  a  number  of  their 
beautiful  hanging  nests,  composed  entirely  of  Usnea,  which  he  had 
found  about  Portland,  Conn.  It  has  also  been  found  breeding  near 
New  Haven  (Maltby  Park — Stadtm tiller  Brothers). 

27.  Helm.itherus  vermivorus  (Gmelin)  Bonap.       Worm-eating  Warbler. 

A  rare  summer  resident;  breeds.  As  long  ago  as  the  year  1843,  Dr. 
J.  D.  Whelpley  observed  this  species  at  New  Haven  (Linsley),  and  it 
has  since  been  taken  in  this  vicinity  by  several  collectors.  In  the 
"Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club,"  (vol.  ii,  No.  1,  Jan.,  1877,  p.  21),  Mr. 
H.  A.  Purdie  states  that  "  Mr.  Shores  shot  a  male  at  Suffield  (Hart- 
ford County),  Conn.,  August  22,  1874.  This  is,  I  think,  its  most 
northerly  record  in  the  Atlantic  States  yet  noted."  Also,  in  the 
American  Naturalist  for  Nov.,  1873  (vol.  vii,  No.  2,  p.  692),  the  same 
author  remarks  that  Mr.  J.  N.  Clai'k,  of  Saybrook,  Conn.,  writes  him 
that  he  has  taken  "in  the  nesting  season,  7Ze^»iiY/ie/*MS  yer»?/vor«5. 


*  Hull.  Null,.  Orniili.  ("lull,  vol.  i,  No.  4,  p.  02.     Nov.  1870. 


(\  If.  Merrid))! — Birds  of  Convecticnt.  |;{ 

but  as  yet  has  faiknl  to  iiiul  the  nest."  ^Ir.  Clark  tells  iiu'  lie  li.is 
soon  as  many  as  five  individuals  in  a  single  day.  Mr.  Tlioinas 
Osborne,  of  Xew  Haven,  lias  a  mounted  specimen  in  his  cal>ini'l,  pro- 
cured May  17,  1875.  Two  or  three  others  speciineus  were  shot,  near 
here  in  May,  1875,  and  Mr.  George  Bird  Grinnell  tells  me  that  he 
has  known  of  the  capture  of  several  in  this  vicinity. 

8o  little  is  really  known  concerning  the  habits  of  this  rare  warbler, 
that  I  take  great  pleasure  in  quoting  the  following  interesting  account 
of  it  from  the  observations  of  my  friend,  Mr.  William  IJrewster,  of 
Cambridge,  "  On  the  Birds  of  Ritchie  County,  West  Virginia.'"  Mr. 
Brewster  writes  that  it  is  "  most  partial  to  the  retired  thickets  in  the 
woods,  along  water  courses,  and  is  seldom  or  never  foimd  in  the  \\i\x\\ 
open  groves.  They  keep  much  on  the  ground,  and  walk  about  rather 
slowly,  searching  for  food  among  the  dried  leaves.  In  general 
appearance  they  are  quite  unique,  and  I  rarely  failed  to  identify  one 
with  an  instant's  glance,  so  very  peculiar  are  all  their  attitudes  and 
motions.  The  tail  is  habitually  carried  at  an  elevation  considerably 
above  the  line  of  the  back,  which  gives  them  quite  a  smart,  jaunty, 
air,  and  if  the  dorsal  aspect  be  exposed,  in  a  clear  light,  the  peculiar 
marking  of  the  crown  is  quite  conspicuous.  Seen  as  they  usually  are, 
however,  dimly  flitting  ahead  through  the  gloom  and  shadow  of  the 
thickets,  the  impression  received  is  that  of  a  dark  little  bird  which 
vanishes  unaccountably  before  your  very  eyes,  leaving  you  quite 
uncertain  where  to  look  for  it  next :  indeed,  I  hardly  know  a  more 
difficult  bird  to  procure,  for  the  slightest  noise  sends  it  darting  otf 
through  the  woods  at  once.  Occasionally  you  will  come  upon  one 
winding  around  the  trunk  of  some  tree,  exactly  in  the  manner  of 
Mniot'dta  varia^  running  out  along  the  branches  with  nimble  motion, 
peering  alternately  under  the  bark  on  either  side,  and  anon  returning 
to  the  main  stem,  perhaps  the  next  instant,  to  hop  back  to  the  ground 
again.  On  such  occasions  they  rarely  ascend  to  the  height  of  more 
than  eight  or  ten  feet.  The  males  are  very  quarrelsome,  chasing  one 
another  through  the  woods  with  loud,  sharp,  chirpings,  careering 
with  almost  inconceivable  velocity  up  among  the  tojis  of  the  liighest 
oaks,  or  darting  among  the  thickets  with  interminable  douldings  until 
the  pursuer,  growing  tired  of  the  chase,  alights  on  some  low  twig  or 
mossy  log,  and,  in  token  of  his  victory,  utters  a  warble  so  feeble  that 
you  miist  be  very  near  to  catch  it  at  all,  a  sound  like  that  produced 
by  striking  two  pebbles  very  quickly  and  gently  together,  or  the 
song  of  ISinzella  socialis  heard  at  a  distance,  and  altogether  a  very 
indifferent  performance."* 

*  Annals  Lyceum  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y..  vol.  xi,  pp.  134-5.     June,  1875. 


14  C.  H.  Mernam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

28.  Helminthophaga  pinus  (Linne)  Baird.      Bhie-winged  Yellow  Warbler. 
A  summer  resident  in  soiitliern  Connecticut  and  in  the  Connecticut 

Valley;  breeds.  Not  common  at  New  Haven.  Mr.  L.  C.  Bragti; 
took  a  female  May  12,  and  I  captured  a  male  on  the  24th,  1876.  Mr. 
J.  N.  Clark  finds  it  breeding  regularly,  and  in  considerable  numbers, 
at  Saybrook,  Conn.*  Mr.  W.  R.  Nichols  shot  one  at  Branford,  Conn., 
May  12th,  1877.  On  the  23d  of  June  last  (1877)  while  collecting  with 
Mr.  Wm.  n.  Taylor,  in  a  piece  of  woods  within  a  mile  of  the  city  of 
New  Haven,  I  succeeded  in  shooting  a  fine  adult  male  of  this  species, 
which  Prof.  Wm.  D.  Whitney  was  kind  enough  to  mount  for  the 
collection  of  New  England  birds  now  on  exhibition  in  the  Peabody 
Museum  of  Yale  College.  The  bird  kept  flitting  about  so  actively  in 
the  dense  undergrowth  that  it  was  with  difliculty  secured.  It  unques- 
tionably had  a  nest  in  the  immediate  vicinity. 

29.  Helminthophaga  Chrysoptera  (Linne)  Cabanis.  Blue  Golden- 
winged  Warbler. 

A  rather  rare  summer  resident ;  breeds  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
State.  Mr.  Walter  P.  Nichols  shot  one  near  New  Haven  August,  24, 
1870,  and  Mr.  Osborne  tells  me  that  he  saw  one  in  May,  1875,  killed 
by  a  friend  of  his.  I  have  not  yet  met  with  it.  The  finest  specimens 
of  this  beautiful  warbler  that  I  have  ever  seen  are  in  the  cabinets  of 
Mr.  Coe  and  Mr.  Sage,  of  Portland,  Conn.  They  were  taken  in  that 
vicinity.  Mr.  Sage  informs  me  that  he  has  seen  it  from  INIay  11th, 
(May  11  and  27,  1876)  to  the  30th,  (May,  30,  1877,  Saybrook). 
Mr.  J.  N.  Clark,  of  Saybrook,  Conn.,  tells  me  that  he  has  seen  but  one 
specimen  there.  Mr.  Erwin  I.  Shores  writes  me  from  Suffield,  Conn. : 
"Not  common;  breeds.  On  July  7th,  1876,  I  obtained  a  female  and 
three  young  just  able  to  fly.  Have  taken  it  at  two  other  times." 
Dr.  Crary  has  taken  it  near  Hartford. 

30.  Helminthophaga  ruficapilla  (Wilson)  Baird.         Nashville  Warbler. 

A  summer  resident;  abundant  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  Arrives 
early  in  May.     Breeds  sparingly  throughout  the  State. 

31.  Helminthophaga  peregrina  (Wilson)  Cabanls.       Tennessee  Warbler. 

A  rather  rare  migrant.  Two  s])ecimens  were  taken  near  New 
Haven  during  the  latter  j)art  of  May,  1876  (May  24,  Osborne;  May 
26,  Bragg).    Mr.  Erwin  I.  Shores  shot  one  near  Suffield,  Conn.,  June  8, 

*  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  No.  II,  p.  692.     Nov.  1873. 


V.  II.  Jlerriam — Jiirds  o/'  Co/utccficut.  15 

1875,  which  is  so  late  one  might  almost  suspect  it  of  Lreedino;  witliin 
our  limits.  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark,  of  Sayhrook,  has  a  sj)eciiiicii  in  his 
cabinet  in  unusually  high  plumage  ;  it  is  a  rare  bird  there.  I  :iiii  1..I1I 
by  Mr.  Clark  and  others  that  its  note  is  peculiarly  loud  .ind  clear, 
serving  to  distinguish  the  species  when  some  distance  away. 

Note. — The  Orange-crowned  Warbler,  Ilelmhtthophtga  celata 
(Say)  Baird,  has  been  taken  both  in  Massachusetts*  and  Rhode 
Island,f  and  also  in  New  York  State  (by  Mr.  E.  P.  Bicknell,  and  but 
a  few  miles  from  our  western  border)|  and  uncpiestionably  occurs 
within  our  limits. 

32.  DendrCBCa    aestiva  (Gmeliu)  Baird.         YeUow  Warbler. 

A  common  summer  resident ;  breeds.  Arrives  about  the  first  of 
May  (May  7,  Osborne;  May  4,  1874,  and  May  5,  187;?,  Portland, 
Conn.,  Sage). 

33.  Dendroeca  virens  (Gmelin)  Baird.         Black-throated  Green  "Warbler. 

A  summer  resident;  very  abundant  during  its  migrations.  Arrives 
about  May  1st,  remaining  through  the  month  (May  23) ;  have  taken 
them  in  the  fall,  from  September  loth  to  October  18th.  Mr.  W.  W. 
Coe  tells  me  that  they  remain  through  the  entire  summer  in  dense 
swamps  about  Portland,  Conn.,  and  doubtless  breed,  though  he  has 
not  yet  taken  the  nest.  I  am  also  informed  by  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark  that  a 
few"  breed  at  Saybrook,  where  he  has  found  two  nests  after  the  young 
had  hatched.  I  am  surprised  at  this,  for  it  is  the  last  place  in  the 
State  where  they  ought,  theoretically,  to  breed. 

34.  Dendroeca  Caerulescens  (Linue)  Baird.         Black-tliroated  Blue  Warl)k"r. 

A  summer  resident.  Common  spring  migrant;  Mr.  Osborne  ami 
myself  have  also  taken  it  here  in  autumn  (October  7,  12,  and  1!)). 
Arrives  about  May  10th;  breeds  sparingly  in  the  northeastern  part 
of  the  State  (Eastford),  where  two  nests  were  found  in  June  (8  and 
13,  1874,)  by  the  Rev.  C.  M.  Jones.  § 

35.  Dendroeca  Caerulea  (Wilson)  Baird.     Cierulean  Warl)lcr. 

A  very  rare  summer  visitant  from  the  Southern  and  Central  States. 
This  rare  warbler  was  observed  at  Stratford,  Conn.,  by  Linsley,  as 

*  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornithol.  Club,  vol.  i,  No.  4,  p.  95.     Nov.  1876. 

f  Ibid,  vol.  ii.  No.  1,  p.  21.     Jan.  1877. 

X  In  letter  from  E.  P.  Bicknell. 

§  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club,  vol.  i,  No.  1,  p.  11.     April,  1876. 


16  C.  H.  3ferrla)n — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

long  ago  us  April,  1841,  II.  A.  Purdie  says,  "a  male  was  obtained 
by  Mr.  Shores  at  Suffiekl,  June  12,  1875."*  Mr.  Shores  writes  nie 
that  he  "  obtained  it  purely  by  accident  while  trying  to  shoot  a 
Warbling  Vireo  (  Vlreo gUvus).'^''  So  far  as  I  am  aware  these  two  are 
the  only  instances  of  its  capture  within  the  State. 

36.  Dendroeca  COronata  (Linne)  Gray.         Yellow-rumped  Warbler. 

Very  common  during  migrations.  Have  taken  it  as  early  as  xVpril 
18th  (1875).  In  the  fall  it  may  be  seen  from  the  last  of  September 
till  the  first  of  November,  some  remaining  still  later  (Nov.  15),  and 
Mr.  Grinncll  informs  me  that  he  has  taken  it  every  month  during  the 
entire  winter, 

37.  Dendroeca  Blackbnrniae  (Gmeliu)  Baird.  Blackburnian  Warbler. 

Common  during  the  migrations,  being  particularly  abundant  in 
spring.  A  few  sometimes  breed.  Arrives  about  May  9th,  remaining 
till  the  last  of  the  month  (May  27).  Also  occurs  from  the  middle  of 
September  till  early  in  October  (Oct.  8),  In  the  spring  great  num- 
bers of  them  frequent  the  elms  in  the  heart  of  the  town.  Mr.  Josiah  G. 
Ely  writes  me,  from  Lyme,  Conn.,  that  he  "  shot  a  female  Black- 
burnian Warbler  in  July,  1873,  with  its  belly  minus  of  feathers.  It 
evidently  had  a  nest  somewhere  in  that  vicinity." 

38.  Dendroeca  striata  (Fonstor)  Baird.         Black-poll  Warl)lL>r. 

One  of  our  most  abundant  migrants.  iVrrives  from  the  south  al)out 
May  13th,  remaining  till  the  last  of  the  month  (May  30  ;  June  2,  1872, 
Portland,  Conn,,  Sage).  In  the  autumn  they  are  quite  numerous  by 
Sei)t.  10th,  and  their  number  does  not  decrease  much  till  after  the 
middle  of  October — some  staying  till  the  last  of  the  month  (Oct.  20), 

39.  Dendroeca  castanea  (WiLson)  Baird.         Bay-breasted  Warbler. 

Sometimes  quite  abundant  during  the  spring  migration  (1876,  for 
example) ;  at  other  times  extremely  rare,  if  occurring  at  all.  Arrives 
about  the  middle  of  May,  remaining  till  the  last  of  the  month.  Mr- 
Osborne  has  seen  it  in  fall  (Sept.  30  and  Oct.  17,  1870).  Mr.  Shores 
gives  it  as  "rare,"  never  having  taken  "but  two  specimens,"  at 
Suffield,  Conn.f 

*  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club,  vol.  ii,  No.  1,  p.  21.     January,  1817. 
f  MS.  notes  of  Krwiii  I.  Shores. 


C.  II.  Mcrrhun — liirds  of  (Jon ne<-f  lent.  17 

40.  Dendroeca  Pennsylvanica  (Limu;)  Baird.       oiu'stimt-Hidod  Wariiicr, 
A  suimnor  resuloiit  ;    breods.      Very  al)un(l;uil  durinir  ini<_;:r:\ti<tiis. 

Arrhi's  oarly  in  May  (7),  the   grcatiT   iiuinUci-  passing;   north   lu'loro 
tlic  first  of  June. 

41.  Dendroeca  maculosa  (Gmclin)  Baird.         Blark-and-yollow  Warldcr. 

A  c(iinni(iii  spring  antl  autumn  migrant.  Arrives  about  i\Iay  12lli, 
remaining  till  June  1st.  Have  taken  it  in  the  fall,  from  the  middle 
of  September  to  October  1st,  ami  it  })robably  remains  still  later.* 

42.  Dendroeca  tigrina  (Gmelin)  Baird.         Cape  May  Warbler. 

A  rather  rare  migrant,  though  a  few  are  taken  every  season.  Ilaxc 
known  of  its  occurrence  from  May  10th,  (Osborne)  to  the  25tli.  Mr. 
Shores  writes  me  that  it  is  generally  rare  about  Sufllield,  C\)iui.,  but 
that  it  was  not  uncommon  there  in  the  spring  of  1870. 

43.  Dendroeca  discolor  (Vieillot)  Baird.         Prairie  Warbler. 

A  summer  resident;  not  common  about  New  Haven.  Breeds  spar- 
ingly. Mr.  Dayan  has  taken  it  on  May  13th  and  Sept.  15th.  Mr.  W. 
W.  Coe  tells  me  that  it  breeds  near  ]*ortland,  Conn.,  but  is  rather  rare. 
I  shot  one  near  New  Haven,  May  14th,  1877.  I  am  informe<l  by  Mr. 
E.  I.  Shores,  of  Sutheld,  that  it  is  not  rare  about  Enfield,  Conn.  jMr. 
J.  N.  Clark  tells  me  that  it  breeds  plentifully  about  Saybrook,  Conn. 

44.  Dendroeca  dominica  (Linne)  Baird.         Yellow-throated  A\^arbler. 

A  rare  accidental  visitor  from  the  south  Dr.  Daniel  Crary,  of  I  lart- 
ford.  Conn.,  writes  me  that  during  fifteen  years  of  bird  collecting  in 
that  vicinity  (in  the  Connecticut  Valley)  he  has  secured  several  speci- 
mens of  this  rare  species.  Dr.  E.  L.  II.  Thompson  also  assures  nic  that 
he  has  seen  it  about  New  Haven.  Cones,  in  his  "  List  of  the  Birds 
of  New  England,"  states,  and  very  properly  too,  that  "  there  is  no 
good  evidence,"  that  this  species  "ever  straggles  as  far  north  as 
New  England,"!  but,  for  some  unaccountable  reason,  in  his  "  Birds 
of  the  Northwest"  (p.  66)  disregards  his  former  correct  statement 
and  says  that  the  bird  occurs  "north  to  Connecticut  (Linsley)."  .V 
glance  at  Linsley's  catalogue  shows  that  he  did  not  ktiow  of  its 
occurrence  in  this  State. 

*  For  an  interesting  account  of  the  habits  of  this  bird,  see  an  article  by  William 
Brewster,  in  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club,  vol.  ii.  No.  1,  pp.  1-7.     Jan.,  1877. 
f  Proceed.  Essex.  Inst.,  vol.  v,  p.  270. 
Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Vol.  IV.  3  July,  1877. 


18  C.  H.  Merrimn — Birds  of  Coiinectkut. 

45.  Dendrceca  palmarum  (Gmelin)  Baird.         Red  poU  Warbler. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  Arrives,  in  spring,  about 
the  middle  of  April  (13,  1877;  18,  1875),  usually  remaining  but  a  few 
days ;  in  fall  I  have  taken  it  from  Oct.  18th  to  Nov.  4th.  But  few  were 
seen  this  spring  (1877),  and  they  straggled  along  in  the  most  unaccount- 
able manner.  I  shot  one  as  late  as  May  5th  !  Along  with  D.  piniis  and 
D.  coronata  it  may  be  seen,  in  spring,  long  before  the  hosts  of  other 
warblers  make  their  appearance.  It  is  also  one  of  the  last  to  depart 
in  the  fall,  at  which  time  it  is  found  along  fences,  and  among  low 
bushes,  by  the  road-side,  and  in  open  fields.  In  early  spring,  before 
the  snow  has  quite  all  disappeared,  large  numbers  of  them  may  some- 
times be  seen,  in  company  with  the  English  Sparrows,  running  about 
on  the  plots  of  bare  ground,  and  the  roots  of  the  elm  trees,  in  the 
City  Green.,  in  the  heart  of  New  Haven,  In  fact  they  seem  to  pay  but 
little  attention  to  the  weather,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  circumstance 
that  they  were  really  abundant  on  the  18th  of  April,  1875,  at  a  time 
when  the  ground  was  covered  with  snow  nearly  a  foot  deep,  with 
only  here  and  there  a  bare  spot ;  while  none  were  seen  this  season 
(1877)  till  April  13th,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  ground  had 
been  bare  since  the  latter  part  of  March,  and  the  weather  imusually 
mild.  Apparently  in  great  haste  to  reach  the  breeding  grounds, 
their  stay  witli  us,  in  spring,  is  generally  brief — a  kw  days  and  all 
are  gone.  During  the  autumnal  migrations,  however,  the  case  is 
quite  diiferent.  Having  safely  accomplished  a  long  and  perilous 
journey  to  the  far  north,  and  having  successfully  struggled  with  the 
elements  and  the  hungry  animate  world  in  rearing  and  ])rovidiiig  for 
a  family  of  children,  its  anxiety  is  over,  and  now  it  lingers,  for  two 
or  three  weeks,  in  its  favorite  haunts  l)y  the  road-side,  before  taking 
its  fiiuil  departure  for  Cuba  or  the  Bahamas ;  or,  )>erchance,  it  may 
not  pass  beyond  our  own  limits,  but,  finding  some  suitable  spot  in 
the  Gulf  States,  concludes  to  go  no  farther,  and  winters  there. 

The  abundance  of  this  species  during  its  migrations  varies  con- 
siderably in  difterent  years.  Thus  in  the  spring  of  1875  they  were 
very  numerous,  wliilc  this  season  (1877)  less  than  half  a  dozen 
were  seen.  This  remark  applies  with  e(jual  force  to  D.  2^f»"S  and 
several  other  species, 

46.  Dendrceca  pinilS  (Wilson)  Baird.     Pine-creepinp  Warbler. 

A  summer  resident;  tolerably  common  during  migrations.  It 
luH'eds  in  [lines,  and  is  more  often  heard  than  seen.      .Vrrives  before  the 


C  IT.  Merridtii —  Jiirda  of  Conneoticnf.  1 0 

iniddk'  ol' .Vpril*  (April  14,  and  |)ri)l):il)ly  oarlior)  and  departs  in  Sep- 
tember (Sei)t.  29,  1875,  Sage).     They  are  so  partial  to  tlie  trci  wliose 
name  tliey  bear  tliat,  in  speakins;  of  tlieir  lialuts  in  tlie  "  Pine-barrens" 
of  Soutli  Carolina  and  Georgia,  I  remarked  that  "it  was  very  appro- 
priately named  the  ji>2V?e-creeping  warbler,  as  I  never,  excej)!  on  one 
occasion,  saw  it  alight,  even  for  an  instant,  on   anything  but   a    pine 
tree;  liere  it  would  sit  by  the  honr  and  wai-ble  out  its  sweet  song."f 
I  miglit  also  state  that   at   sncli   times  it  is  generally   so  concealeil 
among  the  branches  that  one  may  not   unfrequently  s]»end    half  an 
hour  in   vainly  endeavoring   to  "  get  a  shot " — the  bird,  meanwliile, 
uttering,  at  intervals,  its  characteristic  note,  which  is  not  unlike  a 
certain   strain   in   the   pleasant   and   perplexing  song  of  the  common 
field-sparrow   (Spizella  jyiffiiUtf).     On   referring   to  my  MS.  notes  on 
the  birds  of  Central  jMassachusetts,  I  find  the  following  :  "Seldom 
found  except  in  pine   woods,   where  a  few   were  found  breeding  on 
June  25th,  1874."     Here,  however,  though  evidently  preferring  sim- 
ilar tracts,  they  may  be  met  with,  especially  during  the  migrations, 
in  a  variety  of  situations.     In   the  spring  of  1875,  for  example,  they 
were  frequently  seen  in  the  City  (Treen  hopping  about  on  the  ground 
in  company  with  Z>. />rt///<«r?/w,  and  the  English  Sparrows,  and  run- 
ning up  and  down  on  the  trunks  of  the  large  elms  searching  for 
insects.     Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard,  in  his  beautiful,  but  lamental)ly  incom- 
plete, work  on  the  "Birds  of  Florida,"   says:    "While  walking  in 
the  piny  woods  of  Florida  one  will  suddenly  observe  that  the  trees 
over  his  head  are  filled  with  birds,  where  but  a  moment  before  not  a 
living  thing  was  to  be  seen  ;  and  his  ears  will  be  saluted  by  a  varietj^ 
of  sounds.      Beside  the  loiid,  harsh  notes  of  the  woodpeckers  and 
nuthatches,   and    the    mellow  whistle  of   the   bluebirds,  the  slowly 
given  trill  of  the  pine  warblers  will  occasionally  be  heard.     There 
are  hundreds  of  these  little  birds  in  every  passing  fiock,  yet  but  few 
of  them   ever  sing.     They  are   extremely   active,  now  searching  for 
insects  among  the  swaying  foliage  of  the  pines  high  overhead,  then 
clinging  to  the  brown  trunks  to  peer  into  the  crevices  of  the  bark,  or 
alighting  on  the  ground.  .....     Of  all  the  thousands  of  this  sjiecies 

which  spend  the  colder  season  in  Florida  but  few  remain  to  bi-eed, 
and  by  the  middle  of  March  the  greater  portion  leave  lor  the  North. 
They  arrive  in  New  England  in  early  April,  and  by  the  first  of  May 


*  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  stated,  in  the  "New  England  Farmer"  for  1861  (p.  540):  "The 
present  3'ear  [1861]  I  observed  them  the  4th  of  April,  at  which  time  a  recent  snow 
covered  the  ground  to  the  depth  of  several  inches." 

•j-  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  viii.  No.  1,  p.  7.     .Tan.  1874. 


20  C.  H.  Merriain — liirds  of  Connecticut. 

begin  to  construct  their  nests,  wliicli  are  commonly  placed  in  a  fork 
of  the  topmost  limb  of  a  pine  tree."* 

47.  Siurus   auricapillus  (Linne)   Swainson.  Golden-crowned   Thrush; 

"  Oven  Bird." 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  early  in  May  (May  3),  and 
remaining  till  the  latter  part  of  September,  Breeds  abundantly.  Its 
characteristic  loud,  but  not  particularly  pleasing,  note  frequently 
annoys  one  while  listening  for  the  softer  tones  of  some  of  the  rarer 
warblers. 

48.  Siurus  naevius  (Boddaert)  Coues.f   (Novehoracensis  of  Authors.)       Water- 

Wagtail;  Water  Thrush. 

Rather  common  during  migrations.  Possibly  a  few  occasionally 
remain  and  breed.  Arrives  early  in  May.  Have  taken  it  in  spring 
from  May  5th  to  2'7th  ;  and  in  fall  from  Sept.  28th  to  Oct.  18th.  Mr. 
Gentry,  in  his  late  work  on  the  "  Birds  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania,"  says 
that  it  "  cannot  be  considered  either  abiindant  or  rare."  The  same 
remark  applies  here  in  s])ring,  when  they  frequent  their  fiivorite  haunts 
near  some  small  stream  or  swampy  jdace  in  woodland.  In  the  fall, 
however,  they  sometimes  congregate  in  rather  large  tlocks  and  may 
then  be  seen  on  hill-sides  away  from  water. 

49.  Siurus  motacilla  (Vlelllot)  Coues.     (Ludovidanus  of  Authors.)       Large- 

billed  Water  Thrush. 

Not  rare  in  southern  Connecticiit,  where  it  breeds  regularly,  and 
probably  in  considerable  numbers.  Ai-rives  earlier  than  eitlier  of  the 
other  species.  I  shot  a  fine  male  on  the  2'7th  of  A])ril,  1877.  That 
they  also  breed  very  early  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  a  fennile,  con- 
taining an  egg  ready  for  the  nest,  was  shot  by  my  friend,  Mr.  Dayan, 
on  the  17th  of  May,  1876;  and  j\Ir.  J.  N.  Clark,  of  Saybrook,  Conn., 
tells  me  that  the  young  are  generally  hatched  before  May  25th.  The 
fact  of  its  breeding  regularly  in  southern  New  England  has  now 
become  so  well  established  that  it  would  be  superfluous  to  cite  the 
numerous  published  records  of  its  capture. 

In  habits  it  seems  to  agree  with  IS.  ricavhis — at  least  in  its  fondness 
for  shaded  streams.     Its  note  is  peculiarly  loud  and  clear,  and  does 

*  The  Birds  of  Florida.     By.  C.  J.  Maynard.     Part  IT,  p.  49.     Salem,  187.S. 
\  For  Uie  nomenclature  of  this  genus,  see  Couos,  in  HullcMii  of  the  Nuttall  Omitli. 
Club,  vol.  ii,  No.  2.     April,  1877. 


C.  II.  Mcrrhtni — lili'iU  of  ('(ymiictirnt. 


21 


not  reseiiil)U' that  of  any  other  l)ir(l  I  havt-  cvit  hcar.l.  Dr.  K.  \V. 
Hall  shot  a  ])air  in  Maltby  Park  (iioar  Now  Haven)  .lunc  Kuh,  ls74; 
they  ha<l  evidently  Lred  there.  W.  R.  Nichols  and  Thos.  I'..  Oshcrnc 
saw  several  speeinuns  on  the  2(1  of  INIay,  one  of  which  they  seciireil  ; 
and  on  the  15th  1  saw  still  another.  T  am  informed  hy  .Mr.  .1.  X. 
Clark,  of  Sayhrook,  that  a  favorite  site  for  their  nests  is  anioiiir  the 
uptnrned  roots  of  a  fallen  tree. 

In  writing  of  the  habits  of  this  species  in  West  \'ir^inia,  ;\lr. 
Brewster  says:  "  While  the  northern  Water  Thrush  [S.  nmniiis]  was 
confined  to  the  muddy  banks  of  the  creek — and  T  will  retnark  en 
2)(issant  that  I  never  saw  one  other  than  in  a  muddy  locality — this 
species  seemed  to  delight  in  the  pebbly  streams  of  the  hills  ;  just  such 
streams  as  in  the  New  England  mountains  would  be  called  good 
trout  brooks,  overshadowed  by  mighty  forest  trees,  frequently  choke<l 
up  by  fallen  logs,  and  abounding  in  beautiful  cascades,  still,  deep 
pools,  and  wild  rocky  ravines.  In  the  deepest,  darkest  retreats  you 
were  most  likely  to  find  him,  aud  here,  on  several  occasions,  1  was 
foi'tnnate  enough  to  hear  his  song.  It  is  somewhat  like  that  of  *S'. 
JVovehoracensls  [S.  n/evhis],  being  quite  as  loud,  almost  as  rapid,  and 
commencing  in  nearly  the  same  way,  but  lacking  the  beautiful  cres- 
cendo termination,  and,  altogether,  a  less  fine  performance.  Repre- 
sented by  words,  it  would  be  nearly  as  follows  :  pseur^ps^etn', per  s^e  ser. 
This  is  usually  uttered  several  times  in  succession  from  some  shelving 
rock,  or  fallen  log  overhanging  the  stream;  the  bird  in  the  inter- 
vals between  each  repetition  tilting  its  body  incessantly,  and  looking 
nervously  about  as  if  he  didn't  half  like  yonr  appearance  and  had  a 
good  mind  to  be  off,  and  this  expression,  in  the  majority  of  cases, 
soon  finds  vent  in  action,  for  he  is  a  very  shy  little  fellow  the  moment 
he  begins  to  suspect  that  he  is  wanted  to  grace  your  cabinet.  (\)me 
upon  him  suddenly,  however,  as  he  is  running  nimbly  along  the  mar- 
gin of  some  quiet  pool  or  rip))ling  eddy,  and  at  times  he  will  seem  lo 
]>ay  little  regard  to  your  ]>resence,  and  you  may  have  a  fine  chance 
to  observe  his  motions  and  sandpiper-like  ways,  as  he  waiUs  knee 
deep  into  the  water,  or  splashes  through  it  in  hot  |)ursuit  of  some 
aquatic  insects."* 

50.  Oporornis  agilis  (Wil.son)  Baird.         Connecticut  Warbler. 

A  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  The  only  specimen  that  I  have 
ever  seen  alive  was  a  female,  which  I  shot  near  New  Haven,  Oct.  2d, 


*  Annats  Lyceum  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  vol.  xi,  pp.  i:5(;-."?7.     June,  1875. 


22  C  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

1875.  Nearly  four  years  ago  Mr.  H.  A.  Piirdie  called  attention  to 
the  fiict  that  it  liad  been  obtained,  in  September,  at  Saybrook,  Conn., 
by  Mr.  ,1.  N.  Clark;*  and  Mr.  Clark  has  recently  informed  me  that 
he  has  taken  several  specimens  there  in  fall,  and  one  "  fnll-plumaged 
male  in  spring."  This  last  is  the  finest  specimen  I  have  ever  seen, 
and,  at  first  sight,  1  mistook  it  for  the  Mourning  Warbler  ( Geothlypis 
Philadelphia)^  the  male  of  which  it  closely  resembles,  both  in  the 
d'eep  ash  of  the  throat  and  breast  (which  is  almost  black  where  it 
joins  the  yellow  below),  and  in  the  shade  and  limited  extent  of  the 
yellow  of  the  belly.  The  ring  around  the  eye,  however,  is  well 
marked,  and  i)ure  white. 

As  its  name  indicates,  this  species  was  first  discovered  in  Connecti- 
cut, and  by  the  distinguished  Ornithologist,  Alexander  Wilson.  He 
met  with  it  l>ut  oncte  in  this  State,  but  afterwards  found  it  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  says,  "  It  was  found,  in  every  case,  among  low 
thickets,  but  seemed  more  than  commonly  active,  not  remaining  for  a 
moment  in  the  same  position."!  Its  habits  are  such  as  to  render  it 
unlikely  to  l)e  observed  unless  present  in  considerable  numbers. 

51.   Oporornis  formOSUS  (Wilson)  Baird.         Kentucky  Warbler. 

A  rare  snnnner  visitor  from  the  South.  Mr.  Erwin  I.  Shores,  who 
has  favored  me  with  so  many  valuable  notes  concerning  our  rarer 
birds,  writes  that  he  "  obtained  a  male  of  this  species  at  Suffield, 
Conn.,  Aug.  10th,  187G,"J  thus  adding  another  bird,  not  only  to  the 
Avi-fauna  of  Connecticut,  but  also  to  New  England.  I  am  aware  that 
Dr.  Cones,  in  his  "  Birds  of  the  Northwest"  (p.  73),  states  that  the 
species  occurs  "  north  to  the  Connecticut  Valley,"  but  on  what 
authority  I  am  unable  to  surmise.  Perhai)s  the  learned  Doctor's 
knowledge  of  the  distribution  of  birds,  and  of  that  something  in  their 
hearts  which  ofttimes  causes  those  inexplicable  i)eregi'inations,  together 
with  his  marvelous  })ower  of  intuition,  told  him  that  it  did  occur  in 
the  Connecticut  Valley,  and  had  long  been  waiting  to  be  discovered 
by  Mr.  Shores.  Indee<l,  nearly  ten  years  ago.  Dr.  Cones  ]»rophesied 
that  "  the  occurrence  of  this  sjiecies  as  a  rare  or  casual  summer  visitor 
in  southern  New  England  is  to  be  confidently  anticipated,";?  and  it 
is  an  old  saying  that  ])robabilities  become  facts  if  only  given  time 
enough. 

*  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  No.  2,  p.  693,  Nov.  IS?."?. 

I  American  Ornithology.     Vol.  ii,  p.  1(!0.     Kdinlnirj^h.      18.''.1. 

:j:  MS.  notes  of  Erwin  1.  Shores. 

§  Proceed.  Kssex  In.st,  vol.  v,  p.  209.     1K(;8. 


6'.  H.  Meri'htin — lilrds  of  ('on/iecticnt.  2;{ 

Its  iK'sl  was  louiid  at  Sing  Sing,  Woytcla'tor  Co.,  X.  V.,  in  .linii' 
1875,  by  Mr.  A.  K.  Fislior,*  aiul  Mr.  E.  P.  Bickndl  writes  iiu'  llial 
lie  socufod  a  male  at  Kivonlalo,  in  the  same  county,  May  ;{(),  ls7G. 
liiraud  found  it  on  Long  Island  many  years  ago.f  Wilson  says,  "This 
species  is  seldom  seen  among  the  high  branches, hut  loves  to  fre(iueiit 
low  l>ushes  and  cane  swamps,  and  is  an  active,  sprightly  l)ird.  Its 
notes  are  loud,  and  in  thi-ees,  resembling  tweedle,  tweedle,  tirccdh'.  .  . 
...  It  ai)peared  to  nu'  to  be  a  restless,  fighting  species,  almost 
ahvays  engaged  in  pursuing  some  of  its  fellows  ;  though  this  might 
have  been  occasioned  by  its  numbers,  and  the  particulai'  season  of 
s})ring,  Avhen  love  and  jealousy  rage  with  violence  in  the  breasts  of 
the  feathered  tenants  of  the  grove;  who  experience  all  the  ardency  of 
those   passions  no  less  than  their  lord  and  sovereign  man. "J 

Since  writing  the  above  I  learn  from  Mr.  J.  G.  Ely  of  Lyme,  Conn., 
that  he  has  "shot  one  Kentucky  Warbler." 

52.  G-eothlypis  trichas  (Liime)  Cabanis.         Maryland  Yellow-throat. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  plentifully.  Arrives  early  in 
May  (May  5),  remaining  till  late  in  the  fall  (Nov.  1st,  187(3). 

53.  G-eothlypis  Philadelphia  (Wilsou)  Baird.         Mourning  Warbler. 

A  rather  rare  niigrunt,  but  ]n"obal)ly  more  abundant  than  commonly 
supposed — not  coming  till  after  most  of  the  warblers  are  gone.  Have 
only  seen  it  in  spring.  Mr.  Bragg  shot  a  male  on  May  24th,  187<i,  in  low 
bushes.  On  the  following  day  Mr.  Dayan  secured  two  males ;  and  I 
saw  several  on  the  morning  of  the  27th.  Mr.  Thomas  Osborne  lias 
seen  it  as  early  as  May  15th  (May  15  and  17,  1876).  I  shot  a  beautiful 
nuile  near  Savin  Rock,  Conn.,  May  25th,  1877.  Mr.  Griniiell  tells  me 
that  he  killed  a  pair  (  S  and  9  )  late  in  May,  1875,  near  ^lilford,  Conn. 
Mr.  J.  N.  Clark,  also,  has  killed  it,  late  in  May,  at  Saybrook,  Conn. 
At  Easthamptou,  Mass.,  in  the  spring  of  1874,  I  shot  two  specimens  : 
"  The  first.  May  27th,  in  a  brush-heap;  and  the  other,  May  28th,  on  a 
large  birch  tree."  Large  numbers  of  them  breed  regularly,  in  suitable 
localities,  in  Lewis  and  Herkimer  Counties,  in  northern  New  York. 
It  also  breeds  abundantly  about  Umbagog  Lake,  Oxfoi-d  Co.,  Maine 
(Brewster),  and  in  Miiniesota  (T.  Martin  Trippe),  even  as  i'ar  west  as 
"the  Red  River,  between  Dakota  and  Minnesota"  (Coues). 

*  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  ix,  No.  10,  p.  573.     Oct.,  1875. 

f  Birds  of  Long  Island.     By  J.  P.  Giraud.  Jr.,  p.  50.     1844. 

:]:  Wilson's  American  Ornithology.     Vol.  ii,  p.  l")l-2.     \'.<:'>\. 


24  6".  H.  Merriain — Birds  of  Co)inectlcut. 

Regarding  its  song,  Samuels,  in  his  "  IJirJs  of  Xew  England,'''  says, 
"  Its  note  was  a  simple  chirp,  with  a  warl)ling  termination  like  the 
syllables  chlrpchree,  chirpchree,  littered  in  a  soft,  pensive  tone"  (p. 
207).  I  am  j)erfectly  familiar  with  the  song  of  the  bird  in  question, 
but  never  heard  it  utter  a  note  that  could,  by  any  legitimate  stretch 
of  the  imagination,  be  construed  into  Samuels'  '■''  chirpchree.''''  Its 
common  song  consists  of  a  simple,  clear,  warbling  whistle,  resembling 
the  syllables  Hrue,  Hr'Cbe,  ''tri/.e,  Hru^  ^too,  the  voice  rising  on  the 
first  three  syllables  and  falling  on  the  last  two.  Sometimes,  when 
otherwise  occupied,  the  first,  or  first  two,  syllables  are  omitted.  All 
through  the  breeding  season,  and  till  late  in  July,  they  have  a  very 
characteristic  habit  of  perching,  at  frequent  intervals  during  the  day, 
on  some  branch,  generally  a  dead  one,  and  commonly  ten  or  fifteen 
feet  from  the  ground,  and  singing  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time. 

54.    Icteria  Virens  (Linne)  Baird.         Yellow-breasted  Chat. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  in  dense  undergrowth. 
Arrives  before  the  middle  of  May  (May  13,  1876,  Osborne;  U,  1877). 
Extends  up  the  Connecticut  Valley  to  Massachusetts  ("  not  rare"  at 
Suffield).*  Given  by  Emmons,  in  1833,  as  an  "occasional  visitant" 
in  Massachusetts.f  Their  loud,  ringing,  notes  surpass  those  of  the 
Catbird  and  almost  equal  the  richly  varied  song  of  the  Brown 
Thrush  {HarporJiiiiichus  rvfus).  Its  habits  so  closely  resemble  those 
of  its  western  congener  (var.  longicaiukt)  that  I  take  the  liberty  to 
quote  the  following  brief  extract,  relating  to  some  of  the  peculiari- 
ties of  that  bird,  from  my  report  on  the  Mammals  and  liirds  collected 
by  the  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey  of  the  Territories  in  the  year  ls72  :  "They 
are  shy,  suspicious  creatures,  and,  although  when  disturbed  they  flit 
about  in  a  scolding,  angry  manner,  generally  manage  to  keep  out  oi 
sight.  You  hear  them  in  the  bushes  imitating  the  mewing  of  a  cat, 
the  shrill  notes  of  the  Jay,  sometimes  singing  like  a  Catbird,  and 
again  they  sing  sweetly  in  theii"  own  peculiar  manner.  They  have  a 
strange  habit  of  elevating  themselves  in  the  air  to  the  height  of 
thirty  or  forty  feet,  then,  poising  for  a  moment,  descend  again  to  the 
bushes.  During  the  descent  they  jerk  themselves  about  in  the  air, 
at  the  same  time  uttering  clear,  ejaculated  notes,  which  can  be  heard 
for  quite  a  distance,  and  are  not  altogether  unpleasant  to  the  ear."J 

*  MS.  notes  of  Erwin  I.  Shores,  Esq. 
f  See  Hitchcock's  Report,  p.  517.     1S:{3. 
X  See  llayden's  Hcport  for  1872,  p.  G75. 


C.  H.  Merriam — Binls  of  ('<mnectirut.  '2'> 

Win.  Brewster,  Esq.,  speaking  of  its  Iwibits  in  West  \'irgini:i, 
remarks  that  they  arrived  there  about  May  1st,  "mikI  lor  ;i  tlw  ilays 
were  silent,  hut  soon  became  very  noisy,  especially  when  tlicii- 
retreats  were  invaded.  Their  notes  are  so  varied  as  almost  to  del'v 
description.  What  I  took  to  be  the  sotif/  of  the  male  was  a  series  of 
about  eight  very  loud  bell-like  whistles,  commencing  ([uickly,  and 
becoming  sloAver  and  more  emphatic  toward  the  end,  then,  aft ti  an 
interval  of  a  few  seconds,  would  follow  a  scolding  chatter,  to  be 
immediately  succeeded  by  a  single  very  clear  note,  then  the  series  of 
whistles  again,  but  all  these  notes  were  varied  to  an  almost  infinite 
extent.  All  this  time  the  bird  would  be  dodging  through  the  buslies 
ahead,  keeping  always  in  the  thickest  places,  and  jHTh:i]is,  ai'tci-  a 
moment  of  silence,  would  suddenly  strike  up  directly  behind  yon. 
In  this  way  I  have  frequently  pursued  one  for  fifteen  or  tAventy 
minutes  without  so  much  as  getting  a  glimpse  at  him.  Several  times, 
however,  when  I  came  upon  him  suddenly,  he  would  put  on  a  very 
innocent  and  injured  air  and  vociferate  his  notes  directly  (tt  me,  as  if 
to  dispel  any  possible  suspicion,  on  my  part,  that  he  had  been  running, 
or,  to  speak  more  literally,  flying  away."* 

55.  MyiodiOCteS  mitratUS  (Gmelin)  Audubon.         Tfooded  Warbler. 

A  summer  resident,  breeding  in  the  Connecticut  valley  and  along 
our  southern  border.  Although  breeding  abundantly  at  Sayl»rook, 
Conn., according  to  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark  (recorded  by  II.  A.  Purdie),f  I  have, 
as  yet,  seen  but  a  single  specimen  from  this  vicinity.  An  adult  female 
was  shot  at  Hamden  (near  New  Haven)  June  2,  18V4,  by  Dr.  F.  W. 
Hall.  It  was  evidently  breeding.  Still  it  was  fomid  here  in  June, 
by  Dr.  Whelpley,  as  long  ago  as  1842. J  Mr.  Clark  writes  me  from 
Saybrook :  "  The  Hooded  Warbler  is  very  al)undant  here  in  dense 
woods,  breeding  everywhere  in  suitable  places,  ahvays  in  a  low 
Laurel  (Kalmia)  bush."  Mr.  E.  I.  Shores  has  taken  it  at  Suttield, 
Conn.,  near  the  Massachusetts  border,  but  in  the  Connecticut  Valley. 

My  friends,  Messrs.  John  H.  Sage  of  Portland,  Conn.,  and  Eugene 
P.  Bicknell  of  Riverdale,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  have  recently 
called  my  attention  to  an  interesting  state  of  plumage,  in  the  femaU' 
of  this  species,  which  was  alluded  to  by  Wilsong  and  Nuttall,||  but 

*  AuD.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  vol.  xi,  pp.  137-8.     June,  1875. 
f  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  No.  11,  p.  692.     Nov.,  1873. 
X  Lin.«iley's  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Connecticut,  p.  257.     1843. 
§  American  Ornithology,  vol.  ii,  p.  136.     1831. 
II  Manual  of  Ornithology.     Vol.  i,  p.  374.     1832. 
Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Vol.  IV.  4  -Tvly,   1877. 


26  C.  H.  Merriam — Birch  of  Connecticut. 

lias  since  been  denied  by  both  Cones*  and  Baird,f  who  positively, 
assert  that  the  female  has  no  black  on  the  head.  Concerning  it,  Mr. 
Sage  favors  me  with  the  following  note  :  "  When  collecting  at  Say- 
brook,  Conn.,  with  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark,  May  30th,  ISVV,  he  shot  a  female 
M.  mitratus  in  a  plnmage  not  mentioned  in  onr  Ornithological  works, 
and  thinking  a  description  w^ould  be  interesting,  I  send  the  following- 
Bill  black.  Feet  flesh-color.  Head  and  fore  pai't  of  breast  black  (but 
not  so  pure  as  in  the  adult  male),  with  slight  indications  of  black  on 
the  throat.  A  broad  patch  on  the  forehead,  extending  down  on  the 
cheeks,  with  the  under  parts  bright  yellow\  Ear-coverts  tinged  with 
olive.  Upper  parts  olive-green.  Wings  unmarked.  Greater  part  of 
inner  webs  of  outer  three  tail  feathers  white.  The  ova  of  this  speci- 
men were  large.     We  took  the  nest  with  four  eggs." 

I  have  lately  seen,  in  the  cabinet  of  Mr.  Sage,  the  bird  from  which 
the  above  description  was  taken,  and  have  now  before  me  another 
female  (killed  by  Dr.  F.  W.  Hall,  near  New  Haven,  June  2,  1874) 
which  agrees  well  with  the  description  of  Mr.  Sage's  specimen,  but 
has  the  crown  of  the  head,  or  "  hood,"  deep  black — as  rich  as  in  the 
male.  The  lores  also,  in  this  specimen,  are  black,  and  the  auriculars 
lack  the  olive  tinge,  being  bright  yellow.  Since  the  birds  from 
which  Prof  Baird  and  Mr.  Ridgway,  and  Dr.  Cones,  took  their 
descriptions  were  dried  skins,  and  not  "  in  the  flesh,"  it  is  not  so 
surprising  that  the  mature  females  were  mistaken  foi*  young  males. 
From  the  limited  amoiuit  of  material  I  have  l>een  able  to  examine, 
and  from  the  notes  given  me  by  Mr.  Sage  and  Mr.  liicknell,  I  am 
inclined  to  believe  that  the  female  bird,  like  the  male,  is  several 
years — at  least  three — in  attaining  its  full  plumage ;  and  that  the  two 
sexes,  wdien  fully  adult,  can  only  be  distinguished  by  the  fact  that, 
in  the  female,  the  throat,  though  strongly  tinged  with  black,  is  never 
pure  black  as  in  the  male. 

56.  Myiodioctes    pusillus  (Wilson)   Bonaparte.  Green   Black-capped 

Fly-catdiing  Warhler. 

A  tolerably  common  spring  migrant,  arriving  about  the  middle  of 
May.  Have  not  taken  it  later  than  the  25th.  This  species  is  by  no 
means  so  common  here  as  it  seems  to  have  been  formerly. 

X  Coues'  Key  to  N.  Am.  Birds,     p.  109.     1872. 

§  Baird,  Brewer  and  Ridgway,  lIi.story  N.  Am.  Birds,  vol.  i,  p.  .IH.     1871. 


C.  H.  Merriam — Jilnls  of  Conuectii-Kt.  27 

57.  MyiodiOCtes  Canadensis    (UimO)   Audubon.      Cauadian   Fly-c-aUliiufj 

Warbler. 

Common  duriiiii;  tlio  migrations.  Arrives  early  in  May.  Have 
taken  it  from  the  Gth  to  tlie  29tli.  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  informs  me  that 
it  doubtless  breeds  about  Portland,  Conn.,  as  he  has  seen  it  there 
tliroughout  the  summer. 

58.  Setophaga  ruticilla  (Linne)  Swainson.         Redstart. 

A  eomnion  summer  resident;  breeds.  Arrives  early  in  May.  lla\i' 
taken  it  from  May  8th  to  September  22d.  Mr.  Stadtraiiller  lias  a 
very  beautiful  nest  of  this  species  which  "was  placed  in  the  fork  of 
an  oak  tree  abont  tiftecu  feet  from  the  ground.  It  was  built  of  grass 
and  bits  of  paper,  and  covered  with  cotton  all  over  outside,  and  lined 
with  a  few  horse  hairs."*     It  contained  four  eggs,  June  10,  1874. 


Family,  TANAGRID^. 

59.  Pyranga    rubra  (Linue)  Vieillot.         Scarlet  Tanager. 

A  summer  resident;  not  uncommon.  Most  frequent  during  the 
spring  migrations;  breeds.  Arrives  about  May  10th,  after  which 
date  they  are  common  till  the  first  of  June.  Took  a  female  Sept. 
lUh,  1875. 

60.  Pyranga  aestiva  (Linne)  Vieillot.         Summer  Redbird. 

A  rare  summer  visitant  from  the  South.  ''Stratford  and  New 
Haven,  Linsley,"  and  in  a  foot-note  he  further  states  that  "The  Sum- 
mer Kedbird  is  more  rare  than  the  Scarlet  Tanager,  though  1  have 
taken  both  here  [Stratford]  during  the  season  of  cherry  blossoms."f 
In  the  Bulletin  of  the  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club  for  Jan.,  1877 
(vol.  ii.  No.  1,  p.  21),  Mr.  Purdie  says,  "  Mr.  Jencks  informs  me  that 
a  luale  was  shot,  a  few  years  since,  on  Ten-mile  River,  six  or  eight 
miles  northeast  of  Providence,"  R.  I.  I  have  never  met  with  it  except 
in  Florida,  where  it  has  a  very  pleasant  song.  Dr.  Thompson,  of  this 
city,  informs  me  that  he  shot  one  near  New  Haven,  in  summer,  about 
five  years  ago;  and  I  am  told  by  Prof.  Wm.  D.  Whitney  that  a 
friend  of  his,  who  was  perfectly  familar  with  the  species,  saw  two 
individuals,  at  different  seasons,  in  Hillhouse  Avenue,  New  Haven. 

*  MS.  notes  of  the  Stadtmiiller  Brothers. 

f  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2,  p.  '261.     April,  1843. 


28  f.  H.  3Ierri am— Birds  of  (Jonnecticut. 

INIr,  Erwiii  I.  Shoi'es  writes  me  that  lie  killed  one  at  Suffield,  Conn, 
(ill  the  Connecticut  Valley)  July  21st,  1876.  Does  it  not  sometimes 
breed  here  ? 

Family,  HIRUNDINID^. 

61.  HirundO  horreorum  (Barton.)        Barn  Swallow. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  abundantly  under  the  roofs 
of  barns.  Arrives  during  the  latter  part  of  April  (April  21,  18*77), 
remaining  till  September.  Under  the  head  of  this  species,  Peter 
Kalm  wrote,  from  Raccoon,  New  Jersey,  in  1750  :  "  I  observed  them 
for  the  first  time  on  the  10th  of  April  [new  style)  ;  the  next  day  in 
the  morning,  I  saAV  great  numbers  of  them  sitting  on  posts  and  planks, 
and  they  were  as  wet  as  if  they  had  been  just  come  out  of  the  sea," 
and  the  translator  of  his  "  Travels,"  John  Reinhold  Forster,  F.A.S., 
puts  in  a  foot-note,  saying :  "  It  has  been  a  subject  of  contest  among 

naturalists,  to  determine  the  winter-retreat  of  Swallows The 

question  must  therefore  be  decided  by  facts  ;  nor  are  they  wanting 
here:  Dr.  Waller ius,  the  celebrated  Swedish  Chemist,  wrote  in  1748, 
/September  the  6th,  O.  S.,  to  the  late  Mr.  Klein,  Secretary  of  the  City 
of  Dantzick :  '  That  he  has  seen  more  than  once  Swallotcs  assembling 
on  a  reed,  till  they  were  all  immersed  and  went  to  the  bottom  ;  this 
being  preceded  by  a  dirge  of  a  quarter  of  an  hour's  length.  He 
attests  likewise,  that  he  had  seen  a  Sioallow  caught  during  winter 
out  of  a  lake  with  a  net,  drawn,  as  is  common  in  northern  countries, 
under  the  ice :  this  bird  was  brought  into  a  warm  room,  revived, 
fluttered  about,  and  soon  after  died.  Mr.  Klein  applied  to  many 
Feruiiers  generatix  of  the  King  of  Prussia''s  domains,  who  had  great 
lakes  in  their  districts All  the  people  questioned  made  affi- 
davits upon  oath  before  the  magistrates." 

"  First,  The  mother  of  the  Countess  LeJmdorf  said,  that  she  had 
seen  a  bundle  of  Swallows  brought  from  the  Frith-IIaff  (a  lake  com- 
municating with  tlie  Baltic  at  PiUaii)  Avhich  wlu'ii  brought  into  a 
moderately  warm  room,  revived  and  fluttered  about.  Secondh/, 
Count  ScJdii'heit  gave  an  instrument  on  stamped  paper,  importing, 
that  by  fishing  on  the  lake  belonging  to  his  estate  of  Gerdauen  in 
winter,  he  saAV  several  Swalloios  caught  in  the  r.et,  one  of  which  he 
took  up  with  his  hand,  brought  it  into  a  warm  room,  where  it  lay 
about  an  hour,  when  it  l)egaii  to  stir,  and  half  an  hour  after  it  flew 
about  in  the  room.  Thirdly,  Fermier  general  (Aintman)  WitkowsJH 
made  affidavit,  that  in  the  year  1740,  three  /Swalloivs  were  brought 


C.  II.  Merrl((ni — l)!r<Jf<  of  Connect init. 


20 


ii|)  willi  tlu'  lU'l  ill  tlu'  grrat  pond  at  I>i<IU(rk,n  ;  in  tin.  yi-n-  1711^  i,,. 
got  two  Swallows  iwnw  anotlicr  part  of  tlu'  i)on(l,  and  took  tlu'iii  home 
(they  all  being  caught  in  liis  presence) ;  after  an  liour'n  si)iice  they 
revived  all  in  a  warm  room,  fluttered  about,  and  died  three  hours 
after.  Wily.,  Amtnwn  B'Onhe  says,  that  having  had  the  estate 
KlcsJvOw  in  farm,  he  had  seen  nine  Sicallotcs  brought  up  in  the  net 
from  under  the  ice,  all  which  he  took  into  a  warm  room,  where  he 
distinctly  observed  how  they  gradually  revived;  but  a  few  hours 
after  they  all  died.  Another  time  his  people  got  likewise  some  /Sioal- 
lows  in  a  net,  but  he  ordered  them  again  to  be  thrown  into  the  water. 
bthli/,  Andrew  liutta,  a  master  fisherman,  at  Oletsko,  made  affi- 
davit, 1747,  that  22  years  ago,  two  /Swallows  were  taken  up,  by 
him,  in  a  net,  under  the  ice,  and  being  brought  into  a  warm  room 
they  flew  about.  Qthly,  Jacob  Kosiulo,  a  master  fisherman,  at 
/S^rac/at^e/i,  made  affidavit,  that  in  1736,  he  brought  u\)  in  winter,  in 
a  net,  from  under  the  ice  of  the  lake  at  liaski,  a  seemingly  dead 
Sioallow,  which  revived  in  half  an  hour's  time,  in  a  wai-m  room,  and 
he  saw,  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after,  the  bird  gi'ow  weaker,  and  soon 
after  dying,  ^thly,  I  can  reckon  myself  among  the  eye-witnesses 
of  ih\'S>  paradoxon  of  natural  history.  In  the  year  1735,  being  a 
little  boy,  I  saw  several  Swallows  brought  in  winter  by  fishermen, 
from  the  river  Vistida,  to  my  father's  house,  where  two  of  them  were 
brought  into  a  warm  room,  revived,  and  flew  about.  I  saw  them 
several  times  settling  on  the  warm  stove  (which  the  Northern  pations 
have  in  their  rooms)  and  I  recollect  well  that  the  same  foi-eiioon  they 

died,  and  I  had  them,  when  dead,  in  my  hand In   .January 

[1754]  the  lake  oH  Lyhshau,  belonging  to  these  Estates,  being  covered 
Avith  ice,  I  ordered  the  fishermen  to  fish  therein,  and  in  my  presence 
several  Swallows  were  taken;  which  the  fishermen  threw  in  again  ; 
but  one  I  took  u})  myself,  brought  it  home,  which  was  five  miles  troni 
thence,  and    it   revived,  but  died   about  an   hour  after  its  reviving. 

These  are  facts,  attested  by  peo{)le  of  the  highest  (piality It 

is  therefore  highly  probable,  or  rather  incontestibly  true,  that  Swal- 
lov)S  retire  in  the  Northern  countries  during  winter,  into  the  water, 
and  stay  there  in  a  torpid  state,  till  the  return  of  warmth  revives 
them  again  in  spring."* 

Not  many  years  ago  1  brought  upon  myself  the  everlasting 
odium  of  an  old  lady,  in  the  northern  part  of  New  York  State, 
by  presuming  to   question  her  statement  that  she  had  seen.   "  with 

*  Peter  Kalm's  Travels  into  North  America,  vol.  ii,  pp.  140-14.     1771. 


30  C.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  (Jounecticut. 

her  own  eyes,"  a  number  of  Swallows  that  had  been  exiumied, 
in  a  toipid  state,  from  the  muddy  bottom  of  a  pond  hi  tlie  neigh- 
borhood of  her  dwelling.  She  further  stated  that,  on  taking 
them  into  the  kitchen,  "  they  soon  came  to  life  and  flew  about  the 
room,"  but  whether  this  premature  "thawing  out"  was  followed,  like 
the  cases  above  recorded  by  Forster,  by  an  equally  speedy  death,  I 
do  not  remember. 

62.  Tachycineta  bicolor  (Vieillot)  Cabanis.         White-bellied  Swallow. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  in  holes  in  trees  (generally 
standing  in  or  about  ponds).  The  earliest  to  arrive  and  last  to  depart. 
Mr.  Grinnell  has  observed  it  as  early  as  April  Vth,  and  I  have  found 
it  quite  common  by  the  1  3th. 

In  looking  over  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe's  note  book  I  And  the  following 
interesting  item:  "  While  collecting  in  the  vicinity  of  Portland,  Conn., 
June  14th,  1873,  I  found,  in  the  same  tree,  three  Bluebird's  eggs  and 
four  White-l)ellied  Swallow's  eggs,  and  thereby  hangs  a  tale :  in  cut- 
ting away  the  hole  to  take  out  the  Bhiebird's  eggs,  I  noticed  a  white 
feather  sticking  up  through  the  nest.  Never  having  seen  feathers  in 
a  Bluebird's  n"est,  and  knowing  that  the  White-bellied  Swallows 
build  theirs  almost  entirely  of  them,  I  thought  the  Bluebirds  might 
have  driven  ofi"  the  Swallows  and  appropriated  the  nest  to  their  own 
use.  On  removing  the  Bluebird's  nest  I  found  this  to  be  the  case, 
for,  underneath  it  was  the  nest  of  the  White-bellied  Swallow  complete 
and  containing  four  fresh  eggs — the  eggs  of  both  are  now  in  my 
cabinet."* 

63.  PetrOChelidon  lunifrons  (Say)  Sclater.     Cliff  Swallow ;   Eave  Swallow. 

A  common  summi'r  resi<lent,  breeding  abundantly  under  the  eaves 
of  barns.  Arrives  about  i\[»ril  L'Oth  (April  15,  1S77,  Osborne ;  21, 
1877,  A.  J.  Dnyaii),  remaining  till  Septend)er.  Professor  Verrill,  some 
vears  since,  showed  conclusively  that  the  Clitt'  SwalU)w  had  not,  as 
formerly  supposed,  immigrated  from  the  West,  but  was  actually 
known  in  New  England  as  long  ago  as  the  year  1800 — long  before 
its  discovery  in  the  West,  lie  also  states  that  a  large  colony  of 
them  was  known  to  breed  at  Windsor,  Conn.,  in  1830.f 

*  MS.  notes  of  W.  W.  Coe. 

f  rroceod.  i5ost.  Soc.  Nat.  Mist.,  vol.  ix,  p.  '27G.  July  1,  I8(!:i. 


C.  If.  Merrldvi — JiinJs  of  ComiertlcKt.  31 

64.   Cotyle  riparia  (I.inm'-)  Boic.         Bank  Swallow. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  in  eolonii-s  in  Ik.Ics  in 
banks,  generally  near  some  ])()nd  or  river.  Arrives  early  in  M.i\ 
(April  21,  1877,  A,  J.  Dayan).  Williams,  writing  of  the  Swallows 
of  Vei'mont,  in  1794,  relates  tlie  following,  wliicli  I  transcribe  for 
what  it  is  worth:  "Tlu'  iisnal  times  of  the  appeai-anee  and  disappear- 
ance of  these  birds,  serve  to  mark  the  temperature  of  the  climate, 
with  as  much  precision,  as  any  of  the  phenomena  of  nature.  l»ut 
they  do  not  seem  to  be  propei'ly  birds  of  passage.  At  I><iiilii/  in  this 
State,  the  inhabitants  report,  that  some  of  them  were  taken  out  of  a 
pond  in  that  town,  some  years  ago.  A  man  was  em|)loyed  in  the 
winter,  to  procure  the  roots  of  tlic  pond  lily,  for  medicinal  purposes. 
Among  the  mud  and  roots  which  he  threw  out,  several  swallows  were 

found  enclosed  in  the  mud  ;  alive,  but  in  a  torpid  state It  has 

been  doubted  by  some  able  naturalists,  whether  it  is  possible  for  the 
Swallow  to  live  in  such  a  situation.  I  saw  an  instance  which  puts 
the  possibility  of  the  fiict  beyond  all  room  for  doubt.  About  the 
year  1760,  two  men  w^ere  digging  in  the  salt  marsh,  at  Cambridge,  in 
Massachixsetts :  on  the  bank  of  the  Charles  River,  about  two  feet 
below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  they  dug  i;p  a  Swallow,  wholly  sur- 
rounded and  covered  with  mud.  The  Swallow  was  in  a  torpid  state, 
but  being  held  in  their  hands,  it  revived  in  about  half  an  hour.  The 
place  whei'e  this  Swallow  was  dug  up  was  every  day  covered  with 
the  salt  water,  which  at  every  high  tide,  was  four  or  five  feet  deep. 
The  time  when  this  Swallow  was  found  was  the  latter  j)art  of  the 
month  of  February,"* 

Q5.   Stelgidopteryx  serripenniS    (Audubon)   Baird.  Roufrh-winged 

Swallow. 

A  rare  summer  visitant.  "  A  female  of  this  species  was  shot  at 
Suffield,  Conn.,  by  Mr.  Shores,  June  6th,  1874."t  ^^y  friend,  Mr. 
Eugene  P.  Bicknell,  informs  me  that  he  has  found  it  in  numl)ers  at 
Riverdale,  N,  Y,,  within  a  few  miles  of  the  Connecticut  line,  and  that 
it  breeds  there — sometimes  placing  its  nest  "  under  a  bridge." 

66.  PrOgne  purpurea    (Linne)  Boio.         Purple  Martin. 

A  summer  resident,  breeding  in  "  JNIartin  IJoxes"  in  villages. 
Arrives  during  the  middle  or  latter  part  of  April  (April  17,  20,  25, 

*  The  Natural  and  Civil  History  of  Vermont.  By  SamuenVilliams.  ].p.  lin-lO. 
Printed  at  Walpole,  N.  IT.     1 794. 

f  Purdie  in  "  Nuttall  Ornilli.  Bulletin,  vol.  ii.  No.  1,  p.  21.     Jan.  1S77. 


32  C.  H.  Merriani — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

1877).  A  large  colony  of  them  is  located  over  the  P^'irst  National  ]>ank, 
in  the  center  of  New  Haven.  They  are  abundant  at  Guilford,  Conn., 
and  a  single  pair  breeds  on  Faulkuer's  Island,  occujiying  a  house 
erected  for  them  by  Capt.  Brooks. 

Family,  AMPELID^. 

67.  Ampelis  garrulus  Limie.         Bohemian  "Wnxwing. 

A  rare,  almost  accidental,  winter  visitant.  On  the  11th  of 
February,  1875,  Prof.  S,  I.  Smith  saw  a  large  Ampelis  which  he 
thinks  was,  wit li out  doubt,  A.  garrulus.  It  was  in  the  old  wooded 
cemetery  in  New  Haven.  Prof.  Smith  is  familiar  witli  the  bird  in 
question,  having  seen  it  in  Maine.  A  number  of  cases  of  its  occur- 
rence in  Massachusetts  have  been  recorded,  but  the  only  instance 
of  its  capture  in  this  State  is  that  given  by  J.  A.  Allen.  "  It  has 
been  taken  in  Connecticut  [near  Hartford]  by  Dr.  Wood,"*  and  the 
Doctor  tells  me  that  he  shot  them  by  accident,  when  firing  into  a 
flock  of  Cedar  Birds.  "Several  were  shot  on  Long  Island  in  1830 
and  1832."f 

68.  Ampelis  Cedrorum  (Linne)  Sclater.         Cedar  Bird:  Cherry  Bird. 

A  resident.  Generally  common.  Breeds  in  orchards  and  low 
thickets.  Gregarious.  Almost  the  only  bird  that  feeds,  to  any  great 
extent,  on  canker  worms. 

Family,  VIREONID^. 

69.  VireO  olivaceUS  (Liune)  Vielllot.         Red-eyed  Vireo. 

An  abundant  sixmmer  resident,  breeding  chiefly  in  high  woodland. 
Ai'rives  during  the  first  week  in  May  (May  0),  remaining  as  late  as 
the  first  of  October  (Oct.  2).     Superfluously  noisy. 

70.  Vireo  gilvUS  (Vieillot)  Bonap.-irtc.         Warbh'ng  Vireo. 

A  common  sunmu-r  resident,  bree<ling  in  orchai'ds.  .Arrives  before 
the  middle  of  May  (May  7,  1876,  Osborne  ;  12,  13,  14,  1877.)  Cones 
thus  briefly  alludes  to  the  habits  of  this  pleasing  little  songster  :  "  Not 
born  to  'waste  its  sweetness  on  the  desert  air,'  the  Warbling  Vireo 
forsakes  the  depths  of  the  woodland  for  the  ))ark  and  orchard  and 


*  Notes  on  some  of  the  Rarer  Birds  of  Massachusetts,  p.  25.     1869. 
■\  (  brand's  Birds  of  Lniif--  Island,  p.  Ifi').      1844. 


C.  If.  3ferri(im — Birdti  of  ('ojiiurftcnt. 


;{a 


shady  street,  where  il  glides  llirough  the  roluige  of  tlic  tallest  trees, 
the  unseen  messenger  of  rest  and  peaee  to  the  busy,  dusty  haunts  of 
men." 

71.  VireO  flavifrons  Vieillot.     Yollow-tliroatcd  Vireo. 

A  tolerably  eonimon  sunnner  resident;  partieularly  altimdani  in 
spring  and  fall.  Arrives  early  in  May  (May  6),  remaining  till  alter 
the  middle  of  September  (Sept.  15,  17,  1875). 

72.  Vireo  SOlitarius  (Wilson)  Vieillot.         Blue-headed,  or  Solitary  Vireo. 

Not  uncommon  during  the  migrations.  A  few  breed.  Arrives 
during  the  first  week  in  May  (May  2,  1876,  Osborne;  0,  1S75, 
C.  11.  M.  ;  May  5,  1877,  Nichols).  Have  taken  it  as  late  as 
Oct.  13th.  A  nest  of  this  s})ecies,  found  June  18th,  1875,  near  New 
Haven  (Beaver  Swamp),  by  tlie  Stadtmilllers,  "was  out  on  the  liml) 
of  a  Chestnut  tree  about  30  feet  from  the  ground,  and  was  constructed 
of  tlie  bark  of  different  kinds  of  trees,  lined  with  grass.  Moss  and 
caterpillars'  silk  were  plastered  outside.  It  contained  four  eggs, 
which  were  two-thirds  hatched."* 

73.  "Vireo  NoveboracensiS  (Gmelin)  Bonaparte.         White-eyed  Vireo. 

A  summer  resident,  but  not  partii-ularly  common  except  along 
southern  Connecticut,  and  in  the  Coimecticut  Valley,  where  it  is 
connnon  all  the  way  up  to  the  Massachusetts  line  (Suffield,  E.  I. 
Shores).     Arrives  before  May  10th  (May  7,  Osborne). 

Note. —  Vireo  Philadelphlcus  Cassin,  undoubtedly  occurs  within 
our  limits,  as  a  rare,  or  accidental,  visitant,  but  as  yet  no  record  of 
its  capture  has  appeared.  On  Sept.  7lh,  1875,  Mr.  William  Brewster 
"  shot  a  female  of  this  beautiful  little  species  in  Cambridge,  Mass."f 

Family,  LANIID^. 

74.  Collurio  borealis  (Vieillot)  Baird.         Butcher  Bird ;  Shrike. 

A  soraeAvliat  irregular  winter  resident.  Arrives  in  October  or 
November  (Oct.  29,  1876,  Sage;)  remaining  till  the  latter  pari  of 
March  (March  24,  1876,  Osborne).  Very  abundant  some  years,  and 
equally  scarce  in  others.     Mr.  Maynard  says,  ''when  the  Lesser  lled- 

*  MS.  notes  of  the  Stadtmuller  Brothers, 
•f  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club,  vol.  i,  No.  1,  p.  19.     April,  1876. 
Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Vol.  IV.  5  Jily,  1877. 


34  C  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

polls  or  the  Pine  Finches  are  common,  the  Shrikes  follow  them  and 
prey  upon  them."  During  the  winters  of  1874-5  and  1875-6,  when 
the lied-polls  {u^giothus  Unaria)  and  the  Pine  Finches  {Chrysomltris 
2n?tf(s)  Mere  here.  Butcher  Birds  were  notably  scarce  ;  while  during 
the  past  winter  (1876-7)  Shrikes  have  been  uncommonly  plenty,  l)ut 
neither  of  the  other  birds  were  seen  at  all.  It  is  but  fair  to  state, 
however,  that  during  the  first  two  winters  mentioned  neither  the 
Linnets  nor  Finches  were  here  in  large  enough  numbers  to  have  afforded 
the  Butcher  Birds  a  reliable  source  of  diet.  Last  winter  the  English 
Spari-ows  supplied  all  deficiencies  and  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  to 
see  a  Butcher  Bird  flying  across  the  street  with  one  in  its  talons. 
The  "  poor  sparrows,"  unused  to  danger  of  any  sort,  were  utterly 
helpless,  and  at  one  time  it  seemed  as  if  we  were  actually  going  to  be 
rid  of  the  little  pests,  but  warm  weather  came  to  their  relief,  driving 
the  intruders  back  to  their  boreal  homes,  and  now  the  sparrows  are 
apparently  as  numerous  as  ever  they  Avere.  Mr.  Nichols  shot  one 
Jan.  i;3th,  1876,  whose  stomach  contained  grasshoppers!  Where 
could  it  liave  found  them  at  that  season  '? 

75.  Collurio  LudOVicianUS  (Linnt-)  Balrd.         Loggerhead  Shrike. 

A  rare  visitor  from  the  South  and  West.  Mr.  W.  W.  C.oe  has  a 
fine  specimen  of  this  species  in  his  cabinet,  which  he  shot  near  Port- 
land, Conn.,  in  Nov.,  1876.  Fianklin  lienner,  Esq.,  writes  nie  that  he 
"saw  a  Shrike  of  some  species  at  Mt.  Carmel  [near  New  ILiven]  May 
24th,  1873,"  which,  if  he  was  not  mistaken  in  the  bird,  couhl  hardly 
have  been  the  northern  Butcher  Bird,  and  might  have  been  this 
species. 

Family,  FRING-ILLID^. 

76.  Pinicola  enncleator  (I.inne)  Cabanis.         Pine  Grosbeak. 

An  irregular  winter  visitant.  They  were  here  througli  the  months 
of  Feb.  and  Dec,  1875,  and  during  Jan.  and  Feb.,  1876,  but  none 
were  seen  last  winter.  Messrs.  Coe  and  Sage,  of  Portland,  Conn., 
tell  me  that  it  is  found  there  regularly  eneri/  vinter,  though  the  red 
males  are  not  always  seen,  and  tliat  they  have  observed  it  as  late  as 
March  12th  (1873),  and  as  early  as  Nov.  24th  (1875,  and  25,  ls74). 

77.  CarpodaCUS  purpureus  (GmeHn)  Gray.         Purple  Finch. 

Resident,  breeding  abundantly.  Gregarious.  Mr.  Grinnell  in- 
fornis  me  that  he  has   taken  it  during  every  month  of  the  year.     Dr. 


C.  IT.  MerrltDii — />inf.'<  o/'  ('o/nwct/ritf. 


.15 


Wood,  of  East  Windsor  Hill,  (ells  luc  tiial  they  weiv  nlinost  uiiknown 
here  twenty  years  ago,  and  liave  gradually  beeonic  (•(•nmir.ii  sine.'. 
I  am  likewise  informed  by  Mr.  Clark,  of  Saybn.ok,  that  thf  l)ir.l  li.is 
oidy  recently  become  a  common  species  in  that  vicinity. 

78.  Loxia  leuCOptera  Omelin.         Wliite-winged  Crossbill. 

An  irregular  winter  visitant.  They  were  not  uncdinnion  during 
the  months  of  Jan.,  Feb.  and  JMarcli,  isVo. 

79.  Loxia  curvirostra,  var.  Americana  (Wilson)  Cows.      Red  ('r(.ssi)iii. 

An  irregular  winter  visitant,  like  the  last,  and  more  frequently  seen. 
Linsley  gave  it  in  his  list,  stating  that  it  had  "been  repeatedly  seen 
in  Trumbull,  in  this  [FairtieldJ  county,  by  a  Mr.  Beers."  Mr.  W.  W. 
Coe  has  taken  a  niimber  of  this,  as  well  as  the  preceding  species, 
about  Portland,  Conn.  A  few  were  seen  about  New  Haven  early  in 
Dec,  1876,     It  has  been  known  to  breed  near  New  York  City.* 

80.  .(Egiothus  linaria  (Llnne)  Cabanis.         Red-poll  Linnet. 

Also  an  irregular  winter  visitant.  They  were  quite  common  here 
during  the  month  of  March,  1875  (and  Mr.  Sage  saw  a  flock  at  Fort- 
land,  Conn.,  March  31),  but  none  wei'e  seen  in  the  winters  of  1875-6 
and  1876-7.  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  took  it  at  Portland,  Conn.,  ]March 
22d,  1873,  and  saw  there  large  flocks  of  them  (including  many  liighly 
plum  aged  males)  in  March,  1875.f 

81.  Chrysomitris  pinuS  (Wilson)  Bonaparte.         Pine  Finch;  Pine  Linnet. 

An  irregular  fall  and  winter  visitant.  Quite  common  from  Oct., 
1874,  till  March,  1875.  Also  seen  in  Oct.,  1875.  Linsley  says :  "T 
took  one  specimen  from  a  large  flock,  which  was  here  in  my  yard 
[Stratford,  Conn.]  as  late  as  Nov.  7th,  1840."  In  March  and  Ai)ril, 
1873,  I  found  them  extremely  abundant  near  the  boundary  line 
between  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  notwithstanding  the  statement, 
in  Baird,  Brewer,  and  Ridgway's  great  work,  that :  "  according  to 
Dr.  Coues,  this  species  occasionally  strays  as  far  to  the  South  as  the 
Carolinas,  but  it  is  not  common  there,"  (p.  481).  This  case  simply 
aflbrds  another  example  of  their  in-egular  migrations. 

*  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  x,  No.  4,  p.  237.     April,  1876. 
f  MS.  notes  of  W.  W.  Coe,  Ksq. 


36  (J.  H.  Merriom — Birds  of  Coiinecticut. 

82.  ChrySOmitris  tristis  (Linne)  Bonaparte.         Common  Yellowbird. 

An  abundant  resident,  breeding  late.  Common  everywhere,  and  is 
gregarious. 

83.  Plectrophanes  nivalis  (Linne)  Meyer.         Snow  Bunting. 

A  common  winter  visitor,  generally  seen  during  snow-storms. 
Linsley,  in  his  "  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Connecticut,"  so  frequently 
cited,  says,  "  Large  flocks  of  the  Snow  Bunting  were  i-epeatedly  seen 
here  in  the  winters  of  1840,  1841  and  1842.  Previous  to  tiiat  period, 
I  had  not  seen  one,  here  in  eu/hteen  years.''''  (p.  26],  ibot-note). 

84.  Plectrophanes   LapponicUS  (Linne)  Selley.         Lapland  Longspur. 

Occurs  as  a  winter  visitant,  along  with  P.  nivalis,  though  no 
record  of  its  capture  lias  yet  been  published.  My  friend,  Mr.  Geo. 
B.  Grinnell  informs  rae  that  he  has  seen  half  a  dozen  specimens, 
killed  near  the  Connecticut  River  (Portland,  Conn.),  by  Mr.  W.  W. 
Coe.  Mr.  Walter  P.  Nichols  has  taken  it  near  New  Haven,  and  Mr. 
Erwin  I.  Shores  "  obtained  a  male  out  of  a  flock  of  P.  nivalis,  in  Nov., 
1874"  at  Sufiield,  Conn.  Mr.  Coe  has  taken  it  as  late  as  March  16th, 
(1875). 

85.  Passerculns  princeps  Maynard.         Maynard's  Sparrow. 

Probably  occurs  quite  regularly  along  the  coast  in  Nov.  and  Dec. 
(and  perhaps  also  in  March)  in  such  sparing  numbers  as  to  escape  notice. 
The  only  specimen  of  this  beautiful  bird  yet  taken  in  this  State,  so  far  as 
I  am  aware,  is  the  one  shot  by  myself  while  collecting  invertebrates, 
at  low  water,  with  my  friend,  ]Mr.  S.  F.  Clark.  "  On  Nov.  4th,  1875, 
while  collecting  along  th(;  beach  at  '  South  Knd,'  a  few  miles  below 
New  Haven,  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  secure  a  tine  specimen  of  the 
Ipswich  Sparrow  [Pa.ssemdus  prime/is  Maynard).  The  specimen 
was  a  female,  and  in  excellent  conditio!).  Its  mate  was  seen,  but 
escaped  capture."*  The  day  was  cold  and  iliilly,  with  occasional 
flurries  of  snow. 

86.  PasserCUlus  Savanna  (Wllson)  Bonaparte.         Savanna  Sparrow. 

An  :ibiin(l:int  suiiiiricr  resident,  l>i'eediiig  in  open  Helds  and  ))astures. 
Arrives  eai'ly  in  April,  remaining,  in  large  luiinbers,  till  aftei-  the 
middle  of  N()veml)er. 

*  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornithol.  Club,  vol.  i,  No.  2,  p.  52.     July,    1876. 


C  IT.  Merrhnii — liivd-^  of  ('(ouwrtlfiit.  37 

87.  Pooecetes  gramineUS  (Guu'lin)  Bainl.  l^i.y-winj^^cd    Uniiting;  (Iniss 
FiiR'li. 

A  common  siimmor  vosidcnt,  hroiHliiiu-  almndantly,  liki'  tlic  last,  in 
open  iields.  Arrives  early  in  Aj.ril  (April  G,  1875  and  same  d:il<' 
1877,  Sage);  remainiii<;-  till  about  the  middle  of  November. 

88.  CoturniCUluS    paSSerinUS     (Wilson)    Bonaparte.  Yellow-wiiifred 
Sparrow. 

A  common  summer  resident  in  some  parts  of  Connecticut  (notably 
in  the  Connecticut  Valley  and  along  our  southern  border)  ;  not  foutid 
at  all  in  others.  Ai-rives  early  in  May.  FreqiuMits  dry,  sandy,  treeless 
wastes.  Linsley  found  it  breeding  here  and  at  Stratford.  "  In  the 
vicinity  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  this  bird  appears  also  to  be  a  not  uncom- 
mon summer  resident."*  Mr.  Purdie  states  tliat  "  at  Saybrook, 
Conn.,  its  notes  were  to  be  heard  in  every  field."!  ^  have  taken  it 
near  Savin  Rock  (May  29,  1877),  and  Mr.  Grinnell  tells  me  it  is  not 
uncommon  about  Milford,  Conn.  It  also  breeds  about  l^)rtlalld, 
Conn.  (Coe  and  Sage).  I  am  informed  by  Messrs.  (irimiell  and  C'l:irk 
that  it  builds  a  beautiful  covered  nest,  not  unlike  that  of  the  Oven 
Bird  (Siurus  auricajnllus).  Mr.  Erwin  I.  Shores  writes  me  that  he 
has  taken  it  at  Enfield,  Conn.,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  but 
in  the  Connecticut  Valley,  in  July  (July  0,  1874). 

89.  CoturniCUlus  Henslowi  (Audubon)  Bonaparte.         Henslow's  Sparrow. 

A  rare  summer  resident.  I  am  very  glad  to  be  able  to  include  tliis 
species  on  the  strength  of  a  specimen  just  received  from  my  friend 
Dr.  F.  W.  Hall.  He  shot  it  at  Killingworth,  Middlesex  Co.,  Conn., 
July  18th,  1873,  and  it  is  in  the  worn  breeding  plumage.  I  had 
searched  in  vain  for  it  in  the  many  collections  of  the  birds  of  this 
State  to  which  I  have  had  access,  and  had  really  despaired  of  liudin<i- 
it  at  all.  Many  specimens  have  been  taken  in  Massaduisetts  and  it 
doubtless  occurs  regulail}'  in  the  Coimecticut  Valley,  if  not  in  other 
parts  of  tlie  State.  Giraud  says  that  on  Long  Island  '•  it  is  not  so 
rare  as  is  generally  supposed.  In  general,  it  frequents  the  low,  wet 
meadows,  and  passes  most  of  its  time  on  the  ground  .aiiiong  the  tall 
grass,  and  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  flush,  even  when  pursued  with 
dogs  ;  it  will  not  fly  until  nearly  within  their  reach,  when  it  starts 
from  the  ground,  moves  on  only  a  few  yards,  aiul  again  drops  among 
the  grass."J 

*  Baird,  Brewer  and  Ridgway,  vol.  i,  p.  554. 

f  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Oluh,  vol.  ii,  No.  1,  p.  17.     .January.  1.S77. 

i  Giraud's  Birds  of  Long  Island,  p.  104.     1844. 


38  (J.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

90.  Ammodromus  maritimus  (Wilson)  Swainson.         Seaside  Finch. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  abundantly  in  the  salt  and 
brackish  water  marshes  near  tlie  coast.     Remains  into  Sejjtember. 

91.  Ammodromus  caudaCUtUS  (Gmelin)  Swainson.       Sharp-tailed  Finch. 
A    common    summer   resident,   like   the    last,    and    breeds    in    the 

same  situations.  Arrives  about  the  middle  of  April  (Apr.  14,  Os- 
borne). Their  eggs  are  laid  during  the  last  of  May  and  first  of  June. 
Mr.  Dayan  found  a  nest  containing  four  fresh  eggs  on  May  31,  1876, 
at  Savin  Rock,  and  on  the  Vth  of  June  both  species  were  breeding 
abundantly.  We  found  great  numbers  of  both  along  the  Quinnipiac 
River,  and  so  far  inland  that  tlie  water  was  almost,  if  not  quite,  fresh. 
In  some  particular  spots  the  maritimus  outnumbers  the  caudacvtas, 
bnt  on  the  whole  the  latter  greatly  predominates. 

92.  MelOSpiza  palustris  (AVilson)  Baird.         Swamp  Sparrow. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  plentifidly.  Arrives  early 
in  April,  remaining  till  late  in  November  (Nov.  20). 

93.  Melospiza  melodia  (Wilson)  Baird.         Song  Sparrow. 

An  abundant  resident ;  particularly  numerous  from  February  to 
December,  but  not  uncommon  all  through  December  and  January. 
In  the  winter  season  they  frequent  old  fences  alongside  which  a 
copious  growth  of  brushwood  has  sprung  up;  also  found  in  back- 
yards in  the  city,  Mr.  W.  W.  C'oe,  of  Portland,  Conn.,  found  a 
Song  Sparrow's  nest  in  a  hole  in  a  tree  ten  feet  from  tlie  ground 
(early  June,  18V3).* 

94.  Melospiza  LinCOlni  (Audubon)  Baird.         Lincoln's  Finch. 

A  rather  rare  summer  resident.  jNIr.  J.  N.  Clark,  of  Saybrook,  Conn., 
showed  me  a  moTuite<l  sj)ecimen  of  this  species  which  he  had  shot  in 
a  brush  heaj)  in  his  garden  in  the  spring  of  1875.  He  thinks  he  saw 
another  a  few  days  before,  but  it  Avas  very  shy  and  he  did  not  kill  it. 
Mr.  Erwin  I.  Shoivs,  of  SuHield,  Conn.,  writes  me  that  it  is  '■'not 
rare"  in  that  vicinity,  wliere  he  took  one  specimen  in  1874,  and  three 
more  tliis  spring  (1877).  Mr.  Shores  says  that  on  May  23,  and  again 
on  June  2d,  he  "saw  one  with  small  twigs  in  its  bill,"  hence, 
although  he  did  not  actually  find  the  nest,  there  can  be  no  reasonable 

*  MS.  notes  of  W.  AV.  Coe. 


C.  H.  Merriani  —  />ir</.'<  o/  ('o/t/iirftrnt.  30 

doubt  of  its  l)i-f(.'(liiiii-.  Jlc'  rmtlicr  states;  "'I'licrc  is  a  small  piece  of 
-woodland  in  tiiis  [ilaee  wliere  suii'l>'  tlioy  cannot  lie  considered  r.iic. 
Have  seen  several  that  Tve  not  been  able  lo  shoot.  'I'hcy  are  \ crv 
shy.  You  just  l)arely  get  a  ulinipse  ul'oiie  and  lia\e  just  time  to  Lfet 
an  idea  ol'  what  it  is,  when  down  he  u-oes  into  the  thick  slirulibcr\, 
and  no  amount  of  jiatient  waitin^i'  will  lem|)t  him  to  conic  in  si^ht 
auain.  Provoked,  you  tletei'mim'  to  kill  ever\  one  that  comes  in 
sight,  and  after  the  slaughter  of  liall'  a  dozen  innocent  Song  oi-  S\\;im|i 
Sparrows,  yoii  conclude  that  that  won't  do.  77/r//,  [teiliaps,  almost 
the  first  bird  you  leave  will  be  Lincoln's  Sj)arrow.  I  think  they  are 
much  more  common  than  generally  supposed,  but  are  so  shy,  and 
inhabit  such  bushy  pastures,  that  they  are  hard  to  tind.''"''  J.  (J. 
Ely,  of  Lyme,  Conn.,  "took  three  this  sjjring"  (1S77). 

95.  JunCO  hyemalis  (Linne)  Sclater.         Slate-colored  Siiowliird. 

A  common  winter  resident,  arriving,  from  the  north  befiuH'  the 
middle  of  October  (Oct.  8,  1876,  Osborne),  and  rennuning  till  the 
Hrst  week  in  May  (last  seen  May  2,  1877,  Osborne  ;  May  ;3,  187G). 

96.  Spizella  montiCOla  ((imelin)  Bainl.  Tree  Sparrow. 

A  common  winter  resident,  but  more  numei'ous  in  spring  and  I'all. 
Arrives  from  the  north  about  the  last  of  October  (Oct.  28,  1875), 
and  remains  till  near  the  middle  of  April  (A])i-.   12,  Osliome). 

97.  Spizella  SOCialis  (Wllson)  Bonaparte.  Chipping- Sparrow. 

An  al)undant  summer  resident,  arriving  as  early  as  tlu'  latter  pari 
of  February  (Feb.  23,  1877,  G.  B.  Grinnell),  and  remaining,  in  num- 
l)ers,  till  the  last  cf  November.  Sometimes  places  its  frail  nest  on 
the  ground,  as  well  as  on  trees  and  Inishes  (Coe).  A  few  sometimes 
spend  the  winter  with  the  English  Sparrows  about  town.  They 
often  awake  in  the  night,  sing  once,  and  go  to  sleej)  again.  Scarcely 
a  night  passes  (in  June  and  early  July)  l>ut  that  I  hear  om-  sing 
several  times — generally  about  midnight. 

98.  Spizella  pnsilla  (Wilson)  Bonaparte.         Field  Sparrow. 

An  abundant  summer  resident,  generally  breeding  in  open  fields. 
Arrives  early  in  April  (Apr.  6,  is77,  Portland,  Conn.,  Sage),  remain- 
ing till  December  (have  taken  it  all  through  November  and  on  Dec. 

*  MS.  notes  of  Er-win  I.  Shores. 


40  G.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

2,  1875).  They  are  uiitiriug  songsters,  particularly  in  early  spring, 
and  may  l)e  found  everywhere  except  in  dense  woods.  Tlie  song  of 
the  Field  Sparrow  is  loud,  clear,  and  pleasing,  and  he  may  consider 
himself  fortunate,  who  has  mastered  its  numerous  variations.  Minot 
says  of  it,  "  No  sounds  are  more  refreshing,  on  a  warm  afternoon  of 
early  summer,  than  those  which  they  produce."  It  nests  both  on  the 
ground  and  in  low  bushes. 

99.  Zonotrichia.  albicoUis  (Gmelin)  Bonaparte.       Wliite-throated  Sparrow. 

Abundant  during  the  migrations,  sometimes  remaining  all  winter. 
Arrives  from  the  north  about  Sept.  2 2d,  remaining  through  Novem- 
ber. Returns  in  April  and  departs  about  May  20,  at  which  date  it 
was  last  seen,  both  in  1876  and  1877.  During  the  winter  of  1874-5 
they  were  very  numerous  all  about  the  city,  as  well  as  in  the  sur- 
rounding country.  Mr.  Erwin  1.  Shores,  of  Suffield,  Conn.,  writes  me 
that  on  May  15,  1877,  they  were  exti-emely  abundant  in  the  woods 
in  his  vicinity- — outnumbering  all  the  other  species  t(»gether. 

1  00.  Zonotrichia  leucophrys  (Porst.)  Sw.         White-crowned  Sparrow. 

An  irregular  migrant;  sometimes  quite  common.  (Nov.  28  and 
Dec.  5,  1874;  Oct.  25,  1877,  common.)  Mr.  Dayan  shot  a  beautiful 
specimen  May  10,  1876.  Mr.  Osborne  saw  it  on  May  15,  1877. 
Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  shot  one  at  Portland,  Conn.,  March  20,  1875. 

101.   Passer  domesticUS  Brisson.         English  Sparrow ;    House  Sparrow. 

Introduce*!.  An  abundant  ivsident  in  all  the  larger,  and  most  of  the 
smaller,  towns  throughout  the  State.  The  opening  sentence,  under 
the  head  of  this  species,  in  H.  PI  Dresser's  magnificent  work  on  "The 
J^irds  of  Euro})e,"  shows  that  its  habits  have  remained  unchanged,  in 
one  respect  at  least,  notwithstanding  the  great  distance  it  has  bt'cn 
carrietl,  and  the  varied  conditions  to  which  it  has  been  subjected  : 
''Throughout  Europe  the  House  Sparrow  is  very  generally  distri- 
l)uted  almost  wherever  there  aiv  human  habitations  (except  in  the 
extreme  north)  ;  for  it  follows  the  footsteps  of  man  almost  like  a 
domestic  animal,  and  where  he  fixes  his  habitation  thei'e  the  Sparrow 
also  takes  up  its  abode."  Their  })ugnacity  seems  tt)  vary  in  different 
parts  of  the  country  and  at  difi'erent  times  of  the  year.  In  New 
Haven  their  attitude  toward  other  species  is  not  generally  offensive, 
and  they  are  commonly  seen  on  the  friendliest  terms  with  the  Chip- 
ping Sparrows,  throughout  the  entire  season.     In  early  spring  I  have 


C.  IT.  MervuDn — Ilinh  of  Connecticut.  41 

observed  tliem  feeding  quietly  witli  tlie  Hed-]ioll  Wsirblers  {^Deitdroi-o 
pahnavum)  on  the  City  Green,  and  in  fall  it  is  no  nnconnnon  thing  to 
find  them  associated  with  Passerella  iliaca,  Zonotrichix  albicollis, 
M<lospiza  melodia,  and  Splzella  sociaUs  and  ptisilla,  without  showing 
the  slightest  sign  of  animosity.  In  New  York  and  other  cities,  how- 
ever, they  are  sometimes  quite  belligerent,  attacking  ami  diiving  oil" 
the  birds  that  once  occupied  the  same  ground.  This  is  especially 
noticeable  in  spring,  Avhen  they  appropriate  the  houses  ])ut  up  for 
Bluebirds,  Wrens,  and  other  species.  That  they  do  some  good  in 
destroying  injurious  insects  is  certain.  "In  open  places  Avhere  there 
are  a  few  trees  in  the  toAvns,  such  as  the  gardens  in  the  squares  or  in 
the  parks,  it  is  eminently  iiseful  in  ridding  the  foliage  of  the  insects 

which  would  otherwise  destroy  the  leaves  and  tender  shoots  ; 

and  destroys  myriads  of  the  small  smooth  caterpillers  and  larva? 
which  feed  on  the  buds  of  the  trees,  and  is  one  of  the  best  guardians 
of  the  orchard."*  A  few^  days  ago  my  attention  was  attracted  by 
the  peculiar  actions  of  one  of  these  Sparrows.  It  was  hopping  along 
on  the  uppermost  rod  of  a  fence,  and  whenever  it  came  to  a  post 
(into  which  the  fence  rods  were  inserted)  it  would  stand  on  tip-toe 
and  peep  up  under  the  ornamental  top-board  of  the  post,  as  if  look- 
ing for  something.  On  coming  nearer  I  discovered  that  the  bird 
was  searching  for  moths,  of  which  it  secured  one  or  more  at  each 
post,  and,  after  proceeding  in  this  manner  for  several  rods,  it  Hew 
aw-ay,  evidently  having  had  enough  for  one  meal.  In  passing  the 
fence  since,  I  have,  on  several  occasions,  seen  a  Sparrow,  apparently 
and  probably  the  same  individual,  going  through  with  precisely  the 
same  procedure,  and  with  the  same  result.  Do  not  cases  like  the 
above  go  far  to  prove  that  many  birds  are  highly  intelligent  aiul  pos- 
sess a  good  degree  of  memory  ?  The  Sparrow^  in  question  discovered 
a  moth,  doubtless  by  accident,  concealed  beneath  the  overlaping  edge 
of  the  top-board  of  a  fence-post.  Was  he  content  with  simply  gob- 
bling this  one  up  '?  By  no  means ;  if  there  is  one  there  may  be 
more,  and  sure  enough  he  soon  spies  another,  and,  going  to  the  next 
post,  still  another,  and  so  on  till  he  is  satisfied.  Next  day,  when 
searching  for  breakfast,  does  he  forget  yesterday's  experience  ?  Not 
at  all;  he  returns  to  the  fence-posts  and  readily  secures  another 
meal.  The  chance  finding  of  the  first  moth  has  led  to  the  knowledge 
that  similar  insects  take  refuge,  by  day,  in  certain  places ;  and  in  the 


*  A  History  of  the  Birds  of  Europe,  including  all  the  species  inhabiting  the  West- 
ern Palfearctic  Eegion.     By  H.  E.  Dresser.     Part  XLVIII,  March.  1876. 
Trans.  ConxX.  Acad.,  Vol.  IV.  6  Ju^y,  1877. 


42  C  H.  Merriani — Birds  of  Connectlctct. 

establisliment  of. a  regular  habit  of  searching  for  them.  In  spring, 
when  the  trees  are  in  flower,  and  the  swollen  buds  give  place  to  tender 
green  leaves,  the  House  Sparrows  join  the  early  Warblers  in  running 
about  among  the  bi-anches  in  pursuit  of  one  another  as  well  as  of  the 
small  beetles  that  come  there  to  feed  upon  the  I'resh  foliage.  But  so 
far  as  the  accomplishment  of  the  object  for  which  they  were  im- 
ported, viz.,  the  extermination  of  the  canker  worm  (Anisopteryx 
vernata  and  A.  poraetaria)  in  our  larger  towns  and  cities,  they  have 
most  signally  failed.  That  they  occasionally  devour  the  full-grown 
moth  can  not  be  doubted ;  neither  do  I  feel  justified  in  denying  that 
they  sometimes  eat  the  worms  themselves,  though  I  have  never  seen 
them  touch  one — not  even  when  hopping  about  in  the  midst  of 
hundreds  of  canker  worms.  They  seem  to  prefer  the  small  beetles 
and  seeds  abounding  in  the  horse  droppings  about  the  streets.  It  is 
true  that  there  was  a  great  diminution  in  the  ranks  of  the  canker 
worms  soon  after  the  introduction  of  the  House  Sparrows,  but  I  am 
informed  that  this  was  due  to  a  parasite  {Platygaster)  which  preyed 
upon  and  destroyed  great  numbers  of  the  worms  by  depositing  its 
eggs  in  the  eggs  of  the  canker  worm  moth,  and  not,  as  generally 
supposed,  to  the  Sparrows.  It  may,  perhaps,  be  considered  as  some- 
what of  a  digression  in  a  mere  local  list  like  this,  to  devote  so  much 
space  to  the  biography  of  a  species,  but  I  believe  that  notes  record- 
ing actual  observations  on  the  habits  of  any  bird  should  always 
prove  acceptable,  especially  when  there  is  difference  of  opinion,  result- 
ing in  controversy,  regarding  the  merits  of  a  species,  for  in  this  way 
the  possibility  that  individuals,  or  colonies,  may  differ  in  habits  in 
difterent  localities,  or  at  different  seasons,  is  suggested,  and  warns  us 
not  to  be  too  dogmatic  in  our  statements,  or  too  hasty  in  drawing 
conclusions. 

For  abundant  and  unquestionable  evidence  of  the  pugnacity  and 
disagreeable  qualities  of  this  bird,  in  some  sections,  see  the  writings 
of  Cones,  Gentry,  and  others.  Velmont  de  Bomare,  writing  in  1791, 
says:  "  lu  Brandebourg,  in  order  to  diminish  the  ravages  committed 
by  Sparrows,  a  price  is  set  on  their  heads,  and  the  peasants  are  com- 
pelled by  law  to  bring  in  a  certain  number  yearly;  in  each  village 
there  are  Sparrow  hunters  who  sell  the  birds  to  the  peasants  to  ena- 
1)1(.'  them  to  pay  llicir  tribute.  ...  It  follows  the  farnu-r  while  sow- 
ing harvesting,  threshing,  or  feeding  his  poultry;  it  enters  the  Dove- 
cot and  with  its  bill  pierces  the  throats  of  young  })igeons,  to  obtain 
the  grain  in  their  craw."* 

*  Quoted  by  Charles  Pickering  in  Proceed.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  xi,  p.  158, 
April  17,  1867. 


C  IT.  3Ierri<(tn  —  liirdH  of  Coioierth-ut. 


43 


Tlie  Englisli  House  Sparrow  was  first  introduced  into  New  Kn<r- 
land,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  in  tlie  fall  of  185S,  wlieii  "Six  hirds  wen; 
set  at  liberty  in  a  large  garden"  in  the  city  of  Porlhind,  .Main.'. 
"They  were  introduced  into  Boston  by  the  city  goveninunt  in 
1868,"*  and  have  since  spread  over  the  greater  part  of  New  Kngland. 

1 02.  Passerella  iliaca  (ileneni)  Swaiuson.         Fox-colored  Sparrow. 

Common  during  the  migrations,  arriving  from  tlie  North  duiiiig 
the  middle  or  latter  part  of  October  (Oct.  10,  1876,  Osborne;  23, 
1877),  aiul  remaining  about  a  month  (Nov.  20).  Have  taken  it,  in 
spring,  from  March  6th  to  April  1  Otii.  Gregarious.  The  largest  and 
surely  one  of  the  handsomest  of  our  Sparrows.  Speaking  of  its  song, 
Di-.  Brewer  says  :  "His  voice  is  loud,  clear,  and  melodious;  his  notes 
full,  rich,  and  varied ;  and  his  song  is  unequalled  by  any  of  this 
family  that  I  have  ever  heard." 

103.  Euspiza  Americana  (Gmelin)  Bonaparte.         Blaek-tliroated  Bunting. 
Dr.   Linsley,  in   his   •'  Catalogue,^''  takes   particidar  pains  to  state 

that  this  species  was  "very  common"  at  New  Haven  (p.  201),  but  I 
have  never  seen  it  here  and  can  find  no  other  record  of  its  capture  in 
this  State.  It  must  be  regarded  as  very  rare  in  New  England, 
although  several  have  been  taken,  breeding,  in  Massachusetts.  Its 
former  abundance  and  present  scarcity  in  this  section  affords  another 
excellent  example  of  the  irregular  migrations  of  birds.  Giraud  gave 
it  as  breeding  commonly  on  Long  Island, f  but  says  the  eggs  are 
"  white,  speckled  with  black,"  whereas  they  are  blue,  unmarked. 

104.  G-oniaphea  Ludoviciana  (Linne)  Bowditch.         Rose-breasted  C.ros- 

beak. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  in  dense  undergrowth. 
Arrives  before  the  middle  of  May  (May  11,  1874,  Portland,  Conn., 
Sage),  and  I  shot  a  female  as  late  as  Nov.  25th,  (1874),  in  the  city. 
I  am  informed  by  Prof.  G.  Brown  Goode,  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  that 
he  knew  an  individual  of  this  species  to  live  eighteen  years  in  confine- 
ment. Mr.  J.  Hammond  Trumbull  tells  me  that  it  was  almost 
unknown  about  Hartford,  Conn.,  thirty-five  years  ago. 

Note. —  6r.  cwrnlen  probably  occurs  as  an  accidental  visitant  from 
the  South.     It  has  been  taken  on  the  Island  of  Grand  Menan,J  and 

*  Birds  of  North  America,  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgway,  vol.  i,  p.  52G,  1874. 

f  Birds  of  Long  Island,  p.  100.     1 844. 

X  Ilerrick's  Partial  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Grand  Menan,  p.  8.     187:i 


44  f  .  II.  Merriani — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

Mr.  Boardman  states  that  it  was  "  common  in  the  spring  of  18C1"  in 
the  vicinity  of  Calais,  Maine  !* 

105.  Cyanospiza  Cyanea  (Linne)  Baird.         indigo  Bird. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding,  like  the  last,  in  thick  patches 
of  bushes.  Arrives  before  the  middle  of  May  (May  14,  1874,  J.  H, 
Sage;  14,  1876,  Osborne;  14,  1877,  C.  H.  M. ;  also  May  9,  1875^ 
Sage),  remaining  into  September. 

106.  Cardinalis  "VirginianuS  (Brisson)  Bonaparte.         Cardinal  Grosbeak. 

A  rare  and  accidental  summer  visitor  from  the  South.  Mi-.  Thomas 
Bostwick  of  this  city  found  one  lying  dead  during  the  summer  of 
1874,  and  Mr.  Geo.  Bird  Grinnell,  who  examined  the  specimen,  tells 
me  that  its  bill  and  feet,  as  well  as  the  plumage,  proved  it  to  be  a 
wild  bird.  Numerous  specimens  have,  from  time  to  time,  been  taken 
or  seen  along  the  Connecticut  Valley,  and  it  is  highly  improbable 
that  they  were  all  escaped  cage  birds.  My  friend,  Mr.  E.  P.  Bicknell, 
has  taken  a  number  of  individuals  about  Riverdale,  Westchester  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  it  is  certain  that  most,  if  not  all,  of  them  were  wild. 

Regarding  the  age  to  which  our  small  birds  attain,  it  is  worthy  of 
mention  that  my  grandmother  kept  a  Cardinal  Bird  caged  for  twenty- 
one  years — it  was  noisy  to  the  last.  Its  colors  began  to  fade  several 
years  before  its  death,  till  finally  it  looked  very  like  a  worn  female. 

It  winters  as  far  north  as  southern  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania 
(Turnbull).t 

107.  Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  (Linne)  Vieillot.  Chewink;    Towhee 

Bunting. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  on  the  ground,  in  under- 
growth, and  in  the  woods.  Arrives  early  in  May  (May  1,  1876, 
Osborne  ;  4,  1877),  remaining  till  November  (Oct.  28,  Nov.  8.)  JNIr. 
J.  H.  Sage  has  a  fine  male  in  his  cabinet  which  Avas  shot  near  Port- 
land, Conn.,  Jan.  22d,  1876  !  A  characteristic  nest,  found  INIay  24th, 
1874,  "under  a  Virginia  Juniper,"  by  the  Stadtmiiller  Brothers, 
"  was  composed  externally  of  cedar  bark,  lined  with  grass  and  horse 
hair.''J 


*  Proceed.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat   Hist.,  vol.  ix,  p.  127.     1862. 

f  The  Birds  of  Eastern  Penns3'lvaniaand  New  Jersey.     By  AVm.  P.  Turabull,  LL.D. 
p.  24.     1869. 

l  MS.  notes  of  the  Stadtmiiller  Brotliers. 


C.  11.  MevTMin — lilrd,^  of  I'onneHicKt.  45 

Family,  ICTERID^. 

108.  DolichonyX    Oryzivorus  (Linne)  Swainson.         Bobolink;  Reeil-l.inl, 

Rice-bird. 

A  common  summer  ivsideiit,  hiecdiiio-  in  meadows.  Ai  rives  l>(.'i(»re 
the  middle  of  May  (May  7,  1876,  Osborne;  same  date  at  Portland, 
Sage;  May  12,  1877). 

109.  Molothrus  pecorls  (Omclin)  Swainson.         Cow-bird. 

An  abundant  summer  resident,  arriving  in  Mareli  or  early  in  iVpril 
and  remaining  till  November  (Nov.  4,  1874).  f^ometinu's  winters. 
Mr.  Geo.  Bird  Grinnell  writes  me  tliat  lie  took  it  twice  in  mid-winter 
(Jan.  15,  1874,  and  Jan.  16,  1875). 

110.  Agelaeus    phoenicens    (Llnne)  Yieillot.         Red-winged  Blackbird. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  abundantly  in  swampy 
places.  Sometimes  winters.  Arrives  during  the  latter  pai't  of  Febru- 
ary or  early  in  March  (March  4),  remaining  till  late  in  tlie  tall. 
Though  generally  choosing  clumps  of  bushes  for  their  characteristic 
nests,  they  sometimes  place  them  on  the  ground.  On  the  6th  of 
June,  1876,  Mr.  Dayan  and  myself,  while  collecting  on  a  part  of  the 
Quinnipiac  marshes  where  there  were  no  bushes,  found  several  nests 
containing  fresh  eggs.  The  nests  were  extremely  shallow — very 
unlike  those  commonly  found  in  bushes — and  were  pkced  on  the 
bare  ground,  in  the  grass,  with  no  attempt  at  concealment.  I  am 
informed  by  Mr.  Grinnell  that  he  has  taken  it  in  January  (Jan.  15, 
1874,  and  Jan.  16,  1875).  This  is  the  bird  concerning  which  Josselyn 
wrote  (in  1675)  that  there  were,  in  New  England,  "  Starlings  black 
as  Ravens  with  scarlet  pinions."*  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  once  wounded 
one  of  these  birds  (probably  striking  it  in  the  head)  which  "  started 
into  the  air  and  kept  going  up— up  -up— sailing  in  larger  circles- 
still  ascending  till  lost  to  sight. "f 

111.  Sturnella  magna  (Linm')  Baird.         Meadow-lark. 

Resident,  but  particularly  abundant  from  early  spring  till  late  in 
the  fall.  A  few  small  flocks  winter  along  the  coast.  The  Kev.  Mr. 
Peabody  observes  that  this  bird  "has  few  enemies  excepting  Hawks, 
snakes,  and  young  sportsmen." 

*  An  Account  of  two  Voyages  to  New  England,  p.  100.     1075. 
f  MS.  notes  of  W.  AV.  Coe. 


46  C  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

112.  Icterus   Spurius  (Linne)  Bonaparte.         Orchard  Oriole. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  chiefly  in  orchards.  Arrives 
during  the  first  week  in  May  (May  7,  1876,  Osborne). 

113.  Icterus  Baltimore  (Linue)  Daudin.         Baltimore  Oriole. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  plentifully  in  the  city  as 
well  as  country  throughout  the  State.  An-ives  about  May  10th. 
Have  taken  it  on  the  8th,  and  Mr.  Osborne  saw  one  as  early  as  the 
6th  (1876),  while  this  year  (1877)  it  did  not  come,  in  any  numbers, 
till  the  13th,  when  the  whole  country  was  literally  "  alive  with  them." 
Mr.  J.  H.  Sage  saw  it  at  Hartford,  May  6th,  1868  and  7th,  1872  ;  also  at 
Portland,  Conn.,  May  7th,  1876,  and  May  10th,  1874  and  1875. 

114.  ScoleCOphagUS   ferrugineus  (Gmelin)  Swainson.         Rusty  Gracklo. 

Abundant  during  the  migrations,  sometimes  wintering.  Arrives 
before  the  middle  of  February  (Grinnell)  remaining  through  March 
into  April  (April  19,  Osborne).  In  the  fall  it  returns  before  the 
middle  of  September  (Sept.  11,  1875  several  flocks  seen),  remaining 
into  November.  Mr.  Grinnell  informs  me  that  he  took  it,  at  Milford, 
Conn.,  Jan.  16th  and  29th,  and  Feb.  6th,  1875. 

115.  QuiscaluS  purpureas  (Linne)  Lieht.         Crow  Blackbird. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  in  evergreen  trees  in  the 
city,  as  well  as  outside.  Arrives  about  March  1st,  though  a  few  are 
generally  seen  in  February  (Feb.  13,  1876).     Departs  in  November. 

Such  was  the  abundance,  in  early  colonial  times,  of  some  of  our 
commoner,  and  at  present  harmless,  birds,  that  "premiums  were  paid 
by  the  local  governments  for  the  destruction  of  many  of  these  species, 
and  not  without  cause."*  The  town  of  Lynn,  on  March  8th,  1697, 
voted  "  that  every  householder  in  the  town,  should,  sometime  before 
the  fifteenth  day  of  May  next,  kill  or  cause  to  be  killed,  twelve  black- 
birds, and  bring  the  heads  of  them,  at  or  before  the  time  aforesaid,  to 
Ebenezer  Stocker's,  or  Samuel  Collins's,  or  Thomas  Burrage's,  or 
John  Gowing's,  who  are  appointed  and  chose  by  the  town  to  receive 
and  take  account  of  the  same,  and  take  care  this  order  be  duly  prose- 
cuted ;  and  if  any  householder  as  aforesaid  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to 
kill  and  bring  in  the  heads  of  twelve  blackbirds,  as  aforesaid,  every 

*  J.  A..  Allen  in  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornilh.  Clul),  vol.  i,  No.  H,  p.  54.     Sept.,  1876. 


■  C.  H.  Merriam — Bir<ls  of  (l(>ini('<-t;,',,t.  4Y 

such  person  sliall  pay  three  pence  for  every  hhu-kl.inl  thai  is  wanting, 
as  aforesaid,  for  tlie  use  of  the  town."* 

Peter  Kabn,  in  liis  "Travels  into  North  America,"  thus  speaks  of 
tlieir  depredations  :  "  A  s])eoies  of  birds,  called  by  the  Swedes,  maize- 
thieves,  do  the  greatest  mischief  in  this  country.  They  have  o-ivt-ii 
them  that  name,  because  they  eat  maize,  both  publicly  and  secretly, 
just  after  it  is  sown  and  coyered  with  ground,  and  when  it  is  vxyv. 
The  English  call  them  blackbirds.  There  are  two  species  ol' tlicm, 
))Oth  described  and  drawn  by  Catesby.f  Though  they  are  very  dif- 
ferent in  species,  yet  there  is  so  great  a  friendshij)  between  them,  that 
they  frequently  accompany  each  other  in  mixed  Hocks.  However  in 
Pennsylvania,  the  first  sort  are  more  obvious,  and  often  fly  together 

without  any  of  the  red-winged  stares Their  cliief  and  most 

agreeable  food  is  maize.  They  come  in  great  swarms  in  spring,  soon 
after  the  maize  is  put  under  ground.  They  scratch  up  the  grains  of 
maize  and  eat  them.  As  soon  as  the  leaf  comes  out,  they  take  hold 
of  it  with  their  bills,  and  pluck  it  up,  together  with  the  corn  or  grain  ; 
and  thus  they  give  a  great  deal  of  troiible  to  the  country  people, 
even  so  early  in  spring.  To  lessen  their  greediness  of  maize,  some 
l)eople  dip  the  grains  of  that  plant  in  a  decoct  of  the  root  of  the 
veratrum  album,  or  white  hellebore,  (of  which  I  shall  speak  in  the 
sequel),  and  plant  them  afterwards.  When  the  maize-thief  eats  a 
grain  or  two,  which  are  so  prepared,  his  head  is  disordei'cd,  and  he 
falls  down :  this  frightens  his  companions,  and  they  dare  not  venture 
to  the  place  again.  But  they  repay  themselves  am])ly  towards 
autumn,  when  the  maize  grows  ripe  ;  for  at  that  time  they  are  con- 
tinually feeding.  They  assemble  by  thousands  in  the  maize-fields, 
and  live  at  discretion.  They  are  very  bold ;  for  when  they  are  dis- 
turbed, they  only  go  and  settle  in  another  part  of  the  Held.  In  tliat 
manner,  they  always  go  from  one  end  of  the  field  to  the  other,  and 
do  not  leave  it  till  they  ai-e  quite  satisfied.  They  fly  in  incredible 
swarms  in  autumn  ;  and  it  can  hardly  be  conceived  whence  such 
immense  numbers  of  them  should  come.  When  they  rise  in  the  air 
they  darken  the  sky,  and  make  it  look  quite  black.  They  are  then 
in  such  great  numbers,  and  so  close  together,  that  it  is  suprising  how 
they  find  room  to  move  their  wings.  T  have  known  a  person  shoot  a 
great  number  of  them  on  one  side  of  a  maize-field,  which  was  far 
from  frightening  the  rest;  for  they  only  just  took  flight,  and  dropped 


*  History  of  Lynn,  by  Alonzo  Lewis  and  James  R.  Newhall,  p.  298. 
f  See  Catesby's-Nat.  Hist,  of  Carolina,  vol.  i,  tabs.  12  and  13. 


48  C.  IT.  Merriatn — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

at  about  tlie  distance  of  a  musket-shot  in  another  part  of  the  field, 
and  always  changed  their  place  when  their  enemy  approached.  They 
tired  the  sportsman,  V:>efore  he  could  drive  them  off  the  maize,  thougli 
he  killed  a  great  many  of  them  at  every  shot.  They  likewise  eat  the 
seeds  of  the  aquatic  t<(re-grass  {Zlzania  aquaticci)  commonly  late  in 
autumn,  after  the  maize  is  got  in,  I  am  told,  they  likewise  eat  buck- 
wheat, and  oats.  Some  people  say,  that  they  even  eat  wheat,  barley, 
and  rye,  when  pressed  by  hunger ;  yet,  from  the  best  information  I 
could  obtain,  they  liave  not  been  found  to  do  any  damage  to  these  species 
of  corn.  In  spring,  they  sit  in  numbers  on  the  trees,  near  the  farms; 
and  their  note  is  pretty  agreeable.  As  they  are  so  destructive  to 
maize,  the  odium  of  the  inhabitants  against  them  is  carried  so  far, 
that  the  laws  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  have  settled  a  pre- 
mium of  three  pence  a  dozen  for  dead  maize-thieves.  In  New  Eng- 
land., the  people  are  still  greater  enemies  to  them;  for  Dr,  Franklin 
told  me,  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1*750,  that,  by  means  of  the  pre- 
miums which  have  been  settled  for  killing  them  in  NeiD  England,  they 
have  been  so  extii'pated,  that  they  are  very  rarely  seen,  and  in  a  few 
places  only.  Biit  as,  in  the  summer  of  the  year  1749,  an  immense 
quantity  of  worms  appeared  on  the  meadows,  which  devoured  the 
grass,  and  did  great  damage,  the  people  have  abated  their  enmity 
against  the  maize-thieves  ;  for  they  thought  they  had  observed  that 
those  birds  lived  chiefly  on  these  worms  before  the  maize  is  ripe,  and 
consequently  extirpated  them,  or  at  least  prevented  their  spreading 
too  much.  They  seem  therefore  to  be  entitled,  as  it  were,  to  a 
reward  for  their  trouble."f 

Note, — The  Boat-tailed  Grackle  ( Quiscahis  major,  Vieillot)  has 
been  accredited  to  New  England  by  Linsley  and  others,  but  an 
unusually  large  Crow  Blackbird  was  probably  mistaken  for  it,* 


Family,  CORVID^. 

116.   Corvns  Americanus  Audubon.         Common  Crow. 

An  abundant  resident ;  generally  lays  five  eggs  and  sometimes  six 
(Coe).  On  the  25th  of  January,  1875,  I  saw  a  flock  of  several  hun- 
dred Crows  near  New  Haven.  "  It  is  related  of  a  certain  ancient 
philosopher,  walking  along  the  sea-shore  to  gather  shells,  that  one  of 

*  Peter  Kalm's  Travels  into  North  America,  vol.  ii,  pp.  7 3-*? 8.     1771. 
f  Sec  Coues'  Birds  of  the  Northwest,  p.  204.     1874. 


(■.  IT.  Merriaiii — liinfi^  of  < 'oinnrtlcKt. 


40 


tlu'se  unlucky  birds,  inist:ikin<;-  liis  It.iM  head  lor  a  stone,  »lro|.|,c.i  a 
shell-fisli  upon  it,  and  thus  kilk'd  at  owv  a  philosoplicr  and  an 
oyster."* 

117.  Corvus  OSSifragUS  Wilson.         Fish  Crow. 

This  species  must  be  regarded  as  a  rare  summer  visitor  so  far 
north  as  tliis  State,  althouijjb  it  has  been  seen  in  INIassaeliusctts  by 
JMr.  William  Urewster,  who  writes:  "  On  the  morning  of  ]\Iareli  10th, 
1875,  I  saw  a  bird  of  this  species  flying  swiltly  over  our  place  in 
Cambridge.  It  was  ])ursued  by  at  least  twenty-five  or  thirty  ol'our 
common  species  {Corvus  Ai/ierieamts),  and  at  each  renewal  of  tlieir 
attacks  gave  utterance  to  its  peculiar  and  unmistakable  notes."f 
Linsley  gave  it  as  occurring  at  "  Stratford,"  C'oiui.J 

118.  CyamirUS  Cristatns  (Linne)  Swainson.         Blue  Jay. 
An  abundant  resident ;  frequently  seen  about  the  city. 

Family,  TYRANNID^. 

119.  TyrannUS    Carolinensis  (Linne)  Temminck.         King-l)ir(l;  Beo-bird. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  early  in  May  (Mr.  Dayaii 
informs  me  that  he  saw  one  as  early  as  April  13,  1877).  Departs 
about  the  middle  of  September  (Sept.  15)  or  later.  Mr.  Sage  lias 
twice  seen  it  at  Portland,  Conn.,  as  early  as  May  7th  (1864  and  1870) 
and  once  on  the  first  (1877),  but  it  generally  comes  on  the  10th. 

The  habit,  so  characteristic  of  this  species,  of  attacking,  and  driving 
away  from  the  vicinity  of  its  nest,  Hawks,  Crows,  and  other  large 
birds,  early  attracted  attention,  for  we  find,  in  Josselyn's  Voyages  to 
New  England  (])ublishcd  in  1675,  p.  96),  the  following  account  of  it: 
"There  is  a  small  Ash-color  ]>ird  that  is  shaped  like  a  I/awAr  with 
talons  and  beak  that  falleth  upon  Crowes,  mounting  up  into  the  air 
after  them,  and  will  beat  them  till  they  make  them  cry."§  The 
description  of  the  bird  would  fit  a  Shrike  even  better  than  the  one  in 
question  were  it  not  that  it  "  falletli  u2)on  Crows"  which  pastime  tiiis 
bird  is  not  supposed   to  indulge  in;  still   I  have  seen  a  Northern 


*  Nuttall's  Manual  of  Ornithology,  vol.  i,  p.  211.     1832. 
f  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club,  vol.  i,  No.  1,  p.  19.     April,  lS7r,. 
X  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2,  p.  200.     April,  1S4.3. 
§  Reprinted  in  Collections  of  tlie  Mass.  llistorioal  Society,  vol.  iii.  M  series,  j).  •_'7.'). 
1833. 
Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Vol.  IV.  7  Ji'i.v,   1877. 


50  C.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

Butcher  Bird  chase  a  Barred  Owl  for  the  sj)ace  of  lialf  an  hour, 
closely  following  him  to  and  fro  through  the  woods,  till  I  put  an  end 
to  his  misery  hy  shooting  both. 

1  20.  MilvulUS    forficatUS  (Gmelin)  Sw.         Swallow-tailed  Flycatcher. 

An  extremely  rare  accidental  visitor.  The  only  record  of  its 
capture  in  this  State  is  that  recently  published  by  Mr.  H.  A.  Purdie  : 
"Mr.  Jencks  informs  me  that  a  specimen  of  this  s])ecies  was  shot  by 
Mr.  Carpenter,  at  Wauregan,  Conn.,  about  April  27,  1876.  The 
bird  first  attrac^ted  Mr.  Carpenter's  attention  by  its  o])ening  and 
closing  the  tail  while  flying  about  a  small  sheet  of  water  in  quest  of 
insects.  The  only  other  Eastern  United  States  capture  of  this  spe- 
cies, is  a  male  taken  at  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  a  few  years  ago,  as 
recorded  by  T)r.  C.  C.  Abbott."*  Dr.  Abbott's  specimen  was  shot 
on  the  15th  of  April,  1872,  and  "  when  captured,  was  busily  engaged 
in  picking  semi-dormant  insects  from  the  bark  of  the  trees  ;  creeping 
about  very  much  as  is  the  custom  of  Certhia  familiaris,  and  all  the 
while  opening  and  shutting  the  long  scissor-like  tail."f  Its  proper 
habitat  is  the  lower  part  of  the  Mississip])i  Valley  and  Texas,  thence 
southward  into  South  America. 

121.   MyiarchUS  CrinitUS  (Linnet)  Cabanis.         Great-crested  Flycatcher. 

A  common  summer  resident,  generally  placing  its  well-known 
snake-skin-lined  nest  in  the  hollow  limb  of  some  old  ai)ple  tree,  or 
rotten  fence-post.  Arrives  early  in  May  (May  8,  isV-"},  Hartford, 
Sage),  and  Mr.  W.  W.  C'oe  has  taken  its  nest  (i'our  eggs)  as  late  as 
June  13th,  (1873).  The  liistory  of  this  bird  attbrds  us  a  remarkal)ly 
good  example  of  the  change  in  habilat  of  a  s]>ecies  during  a  compara- 
tively brief  period  of  years. 

Mr.  T.  Martin  Tri])pe,  in  one  of  his  interesling  articles  on  "The 
Irregidar  Migrations  of  l>irds,"|  thus  details  his  experience  with  the 
bird  in  question  :  "  In  a  series  of  sever;il  years  close  observation  at 
Orange,  New  Jersey,  I  searched  for  the  (xreat-crested  Flycatcher 
{^Mylarch/iis  crhiitits),  year  after  year,  but  all  in  vain  ;  and  what,  made 
the  fact  very  singular  was,  that  twelve  oi-  lifteen  miles  off,  I  had 
seen  the  l>ird  sufficiently  often  to  convince  me  that  if  not  common, 
it  was  by  no  means  rare.     Yet  lor  some  inex}>licable  reason  it  did  not 

*  I'.iilk'tin  Nuttall  Ornitholofjical  Club,  vol.  ii,  No.  1,  p.  21,  .Tan.,  1877. 
\  American  Naturalist,  vol.  vi,  No.  (I,  p.  I^fi?,  June,  1872. 
X  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  No.  7,  p.  :',90-91,  .Tuly,  1873. 


C.  H.  Merrinni — Jiinh  of  CvnnccfiiKt.  5] 

iiiliiihil  tlie  (.'(nmtry  iiiuiu'(li;iU'ly  ;il)uul  Onuigi',  lur,  :iltli(.Ui;li  in  ilir 
woods  lu'iirly  I'vory  week  for  years,  I  never  saw  it  until,  alter  1  liad 
almost  ilespaired  ol' ever  iinding  it,  I  did  succeed  iu  sliootinj^  a  sin^de 

specimen.     This  was  in  the  fall ;  the  next  spring  I  saw  a  pair , 

and,  after  an  absence  of  two  years,  returning  to  Orange,  I  strolled 
through  the  woods,  my  old  hunting  grounds,  and,  to  my  surprise, 
almost  the  tirst  bird  I  saw  was  the  Gi-eat-crested  Flycatcher.  Sub- 
sequently I  scarcely  ever  took  a  walk  through  the  woods  without 
seeing  or  hearing  it."  A  precisely  parallel  case  occurred  in  tiic 
vicinity  of  my  home  in  Lewis  County,  northern  New  York.  'J'heie, 
prior  to  the  year  1870,  they  were  unknown,  at  least  so  far  as  I  can 
ascertain,  aiul  it  is  safe  to  say  that  they  were  extremely  rare.  In 
1870  my  cousin,  Mr.  C.  L.  Bagg,  shot  one  specimen,  the  tirst  we  luid 
ever  seen.  During  the  next  season  I  shot  a  j)air.  1  was  away  from 
home  in  1872,  but  Mr.  Bagg  informs  me  that  he  took  several  Great- 
crested  Flycatchers  that  year,  and  that  they  were  quite  common. 
In  August,  1873,  I  shot  eight  in  about  an  hour's  time,  ami  since  then 
they  l)ave  been  one  of  our  commonest  species,  breeding  abundantly 
in  tlie  tall  maple  and  birch  forests,  where  their  charactei-istic,  but 
rather  harsh  cry,  may  be  heard  at  any  hour  of  the  day  throughout 
the  entire  season. 

Regarding  its  former  scarcity  in  Connecticut,  Linsley  said  "a 
specimen  of  the  Great-crested  Fly-catcher  was  shot  by  me  in  the 
spring  of  1838,  in  my  front  yard,  the  only  living  individual  of  this 
bird  I  have  ever  seen  in  this  State,"*  and  Nuttall  observed  that  it 
was  "nearly  unknown  in  New  England. "f  That  it  is  now  really  a 
common  bird  in  southern  Connecticut,  at  least,  is  certain.  However, 
we  must  take  into  consideration  the  fact  that  these  gentlemen  (Nutt- 
all and  Linsley)  were  probably  iu)t  familiar  with  its  charac-teristic — I 
may  even  say  diagnostic — note,  and  my  experience  with  the  l>ird  has 
been  that  it  is  i-arely  seen,  unless,  guided  by  its  note,  it  is  [»ersist- 
ently  followed  up,  and  even  then  one  is  otten  at  his  wits  end  to  get 
a  shot,  so  well  does  the  l)ird  keep  concealed  amongst  tlie  foliage. 
And  surely  it  is  not  particularly  conducive  to  traiupiillity  ot  mind  to 
stand,  up  to  one's  knees  in  water,  amidst  myriads  of  mosquitoes,  in  a 
hot  day  in  summer,  gazing  intently  up  into  a  tall  tree,  where,  diicctly 
overhead,  the  cry  of  the  (4reat- crested  Flycatcher  is  constantly 
heard,  and  yet  the  most  careful  search  fails  to  reveal  the  exact  where- 

*  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2,  p.  259,  April,  1873. 
f  Manual    of   the    Ornithology   of   the    United   States   and  Canada.      Hy  Tliouias 
Nuttall.     Vol.  i.  Land  Birds,  p.  271,  1832. 


52  C.  II.  Merriaia — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

abouts  of  its  autlior ;  ;uk1,  wlien  one's  neck  is  nearly  broken,  to  hear 
tlie  cry  again,  tbis  time  issuing  from  another  and  still  deepei-  portion 
of  the  swamp. 

In  snppoi't  of  this  view  I  now  propose  to  bring  forward  })retty  con- 
clusive proof:  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe,  who  early  became  familiar  with 
the  note  of  this  species,  tells  me  that  it  has  been  a  common  bird  in  the 
vicinity  of  Portland,  Conn.,  for  at  least  fifteen  years — ever  since  he 
commenced  collecting  birds.  Prof.  William  D.  Whitney,  of  New 
Haven,  on  inquiry,  informs  me  that  he  has  known  the  bird  for  at 
least  thirty  years,  and  that  he  has  always  regarded  it  as  common. 
His  observations  extend  over  portions  of  Massachusetts  (about  North- 
ampton) as  well  as  Connecticut.  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark,  of  Saybrook,  Conn., 
says  that  it  was  not  rare,  about  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut,  twenty- 
five  years  ago;  and  Dr.  Wm.  Wood,  of  East  Windsor  Hill,  Conn., 
tells  me  that  it  has  bred  regularly,  and  has  not  been  uncommon,  in 
tliat  vicinity,  for  the  last  twenty-five  or  thirty  years. 

In  the  face  or  these  facts  what  is  to  be  done  '?  For  my  own  j)art, 
I  am  willing  to  admit  that  in  northern  New  York  the  bird  may  not 
have  been  rare  prior  to  the  year  1870  (although  I  feel  pretty  sure 
that  this  was  not  the  case),  and  that  it  escaped  notice  because  I  was 
then  unfamiliar  with  its  note.  In  New  Jersey,  however,  a  similar 
su[»]>osition  will  not  hold,  for  Mr.  Tri[tpe  vms  familiar  with  its  note 
and  habits,  from  observations  in  a  neighboring  district,  and  asserts 
positively  that  it  suddenly  became  abiindant  in  a  locality  where 
before  it  was  nearly,  if  not  quite,  unknown.  Hence  it  is  only  fair  to 
conclude  that,  while  some  of  the  supposed  cases  of  change  of  habit 
may  be  explained  on  the  ground  that  the  observers  were  not  suffi- 
ciently familiar  with  the  bird,  yet  there  are  others  concerning  which 
the  proof  is  ample,  and  the  cause  of  the  change  oidy  remains  to  be 
accounted  for.  Whether  this  be  due  to  changed  conditions  in  the 
physical  features  of  the  country  (such  as  the  cutting  away  of  timber, 
drying  up  of  streams  and  swamps,  etc.,  for  example),  or  to  an  increase 
in  some  species  of  insects  on  which  the  bird  feeds  (caused  perhaps  by 
the  abundance  of  some  particular  food-plant — due,  may  be,  to  altered 
climatic  conditions),  or  to  an  actual  increase  in  the  number  of  birds 
themselves,  I  will  not  take  upon  myself  to  decide,  so  imperfect  is  the 
])resent  state  of  our  knowledge  on  these  points. 

122.  Sayornis  fuSCUS  (dmolin)  ISaird.         Powee  Flycatclior ;  Pluielie-hird. 

A  common  sunnner  resident.  Comes  very  early:  Dr.  V.  W.  II:dI 
tells  me  he  saw  it  on  Feb.  25th.  1870,  and  Mr.  Osborne  saw  one  March 


(J.  If.  Merrldiii — lilnls  of  ('oiuncdciit.  53 

mil  ul'  llu'  s:uiu'  year.  I  lirst  iioliri'il  i(  on  tlic  'Jllli  ol'  .M;ii(li  iln> 
season  (1877),  and  Mr.  Sage  found  it  at  IVntlaud,  Coim.,  on  tlic  iioiti. 
In  the  fall  it  remains  till,  or  after,  tlie  middle  oC  October  (<  )(t.  7, 
1874;  Oct.  13,  18,  1875).  Breeds  abundantly  under  tlie  gable-ends, 
or  on  exposed  beams,  of  houses  and  outbuildings,  in  old  she<ls,  ami 
under  bridges.  The  primitive  habit  of  building  on  the  side  of  sonu' 
roeky  elitf  is  still  adhered  to  in  some  parts  of  the  State,  and  the  most 
beautiful  nest  I  have  ever  seen  was  found  by  Prof  Daniel  ().  Eaton 
and  myself,  while  botanizing  near  Mt.  Carnu'l,  on  the  23d  of  May, 
1875.  It  was  placed  in  a  small  wedge-shai)ed  niche  in  the  face  of 
the  rock,  and  its  exterior  was  composed  entirely  of  delicate  green 
mosses.  It  contained  five  pure  white,  unspotted,  fresh  eggs.  An- 
other beautiful  nest,  similarly  placed,  was  found  on  the  "  Hanging 
Hills  of  Meriden,"  by  my  friend,  Mr.  William  H.  I'atton,  on  the  12th 
of  May,  1877.  It  contained  four  fresh  eggs,  one  of  which  is  dislinctlv 
sprinkled,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end,  with  small  brownish-red  spots. 
It  alsi>  breeds  on  the  faces  of  Pine  and  West  Itocks  near  New 
Haven. 

123.  ContopUS  borealis  (Swaluson)  Bainl.         Olive-sided  Plycatflicr. 

Rare;  probably  a  few  sometimes  breed  in  tlie  more  iioithein  :ind 
hilly  portions  of  the  State,  as  they  are  known  to  do  in  Massachusetts. 
Not  previously  recorded  from  Connecticut,  except  by  Linsley,  who 
gave  it,  with  a  query,  from  Stratford.  On  the  18th  of  October,  1875, 
attracted  by  its  characteristic  note,  "  which  is  a  short  whistle  resemb- 
ling the  syllables  0-whe6,  O-whed.,  O-ioheb^''  uttered  several  times  in 
succession,  "with  the  accent  on  the  w/tc,  and  the  voice  falling  on  tlie 
last  o,"*  I  caught  a  momentary  glimpse  of  one,  perched  on  the  t<)]»  of 
a  tall  tree  ;  but  the  bird  was  very  shy  and  I  did  not  succeed  in  getting 
a  shot.  Mr.  Erwin  I.  Shores  writes  me  that  he  took  a  male  at  Suf- 
field.  Conn.,  August  5,  1874.  This  is  strong  evidence  of  their  breed- 
ing in  the  hills  about  that  portion  of  the  State,  for  migrants  would 
hardly  appear  in  Connecticut  during  l\\ii,  first  of  August.  On  turning 
to  my  manuscript  notes  on  the  birds  of  Easthampton,  Mass.,  I  lind  the 
following  :  "  Ureeds.  Not  so  rare  as  it  should  be.  Four  specimens 
procured:  one  shot  Sept.  10,  1873,  and  another  May  23,  1874,  in  a 
small  grove  of  pines  northwest  of  tOAvn  ;  two  shot  May  28,  1874,  on 
Mt,  Nonotuck  [part  of  Mt.  Tom],  where  they  appear  to  be  ([uite 
common.     Their  alimentary    tracts    contained    coleopterous    insects, 


*  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  No.  I'i,  p.  750,  Dec.,  1873. 


54  ~  C.  a.  Mtrriaiii — liirds  of  Connecticut. 

wasps,  and  Ininibk'-bcc's."  In  Prof".  Whitney's  private  collection,  and 
in  the  heautiful  cabinet  of  mounted  birds  presented  by  him  to  the  l^ea- 
body  Museum  of  Yale  College,  are  two  or  three  specimens  of  this  bird, 
which  he  killed  in  the  vicinity  of  Northampton,  Mass.,  some  years  ago 
— one  as  late  as  June  4th,  (184G).  Mr.  lluthven  Deane  writes:  "Dur- 
ing the  past  three  or  four  years  I  have  ol)served  each  year  several 
specimens  of  this  beautiful  Flycatcher  in  the  vicinity  of  Cambridge, 
Mass.,  and,  although  I  consider  this  a  rare  bird  with  us,  I  am  inclined 
to  think  a  few  breed  within  the  limits  of  the  State  every  year."* 
The  species  was  described  by  Nuttall,  from  specimens  taken  in  the 
vicinity  of  Cambridge,  "  in  the  woods  of  Sweet  Auburn,"  in  June, 
1830  and  1831,  and  it  has  since  been  observed  in  eastern  Massachu- 
setts by  Audubon  (1832),  Welch  (1858),  Brewster,  Maynard,  Cabot, 
Minot,  and  others.  Nuttall  says  that  his  friend,  W.  Coopei-,  Esq., 
"  received  this  bird  likewise  the  preceding  summer  from  the  vicinity 
of  Cape  May,  and  Egg-harbor,  in  New  Jersey ,"f  but  TurnbuU  gives 
it  as  "  very  rare"  in  eastern  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  and 
states  that  it  only  occurs  as  a  migrant,  being  "generally  seen  early 
in  May  on  its  way  north,  .  .  .  returns  in  Se])tember."J  The  occur- 
rence in  New  Jersey,  in  "summer"  (the  month  is,  unfortunately,  not 
stated)  would  indicate  its  breeding  tliere,  which  hardly  seems  cred- 
ible from  what  is  now  known  concerning  its  disti'ibution,  though  it  is 
true  tliat  the  "  Pine-bariens"  would  attbrd  it  numy  congenial  spots 
for  nesting.  Concerning  their  habits  in  the  Adirondack  region,  in 
nt)rthern  New  York,  where  they  l)i-eed  })lentifully,  I  have  already 
observed  that  "  they  all  seemed  to  have  the  same  habit  of  clioosing  a 
lar<»'e  hemlock  tree  with  a  few  dead  branches  on  top,  and  were  sure 
to  light  on  the  uppernu)st  twig."§  Messrs.  Maynard  and  Brewster 
gave  it  as  "quite  common  and  breeding  at  Umbagog,"  Maine, 
where  "  it  has  the  habit  oi'  peiching  on  dead  stubs  on  the  edge  of 
clearings."!  Professor  Verrill  gave  it  as  a  "summer  visitant,  not 
very  common,"!    at    Norway,   Maine   (about    forty   miles   south    of 


*  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  viii,  No.  5,  p.  308,  May,  1874. 

f  Manual  of  Ornitholof^y,  p.  284,  1832. 

±  Tin;  Binls  of  I'lastcni  Peiiiisylvaiiia  miuI  New  .iL'r.scy.  liy  William  V.  'runilnill, 
ISCl). 

t^  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  p.  750,  Dec,  187:!. 

II  A  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Coos  Co..  N.  II.,  and  Oxford  Co.,  Me.,  by  C.  J.  May- 
uard,  with  notes  by  William  Brewster.  From  Proeeed.  Boston  See.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol. 
xiv,  p.  21,  Oct.  18,  1871. 

^  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  found  at  Norway,  O.xford  (V).,  Me.,  by  A.  K.  Verrill. 
l''roni  I'roeeed.  Kssex  Institute,  vol.  iii,  p.  114,  May,  18G3. 


C  JT.  Merridiii — liir^ls  oj'  ('oiuiccticnt.  D.') 

riiibagoo),  and  Prof.  Cliarli's  K.  llaiiiliii  also  ol»sfr\c.l  it,  in  Ken- 
nebec County,  ill  llu'  same  State.*  Dr.  \V.  H.  (Jicm;  loun.l  tlnii  ii 
was  "not  a  very  common  s))ccies"  near  Elinira,  Clicimiiio-  (',,.,  soiiili- 
erii  New  York,  "  wlicrc  lie  met  witli  only  two  s|)cciiii('iis  tliiriii'4  sev- 
eral years  of  Linl  collect  iiiu-."f  In  cent  ml  Ohio  it  is,  accordiiH^  to  the 
high  authority  of  Dr.  .1.  M.  Wheaton,  a.  "rare  migraii1."|.  Tlie 
reeonl  of  its  oceurrenee  in  tlie  east,  south  of  New  .lersey,  is  not  well 
autlientieated.  ]My  friend,  Mr.  K.  I*.  Hickiiell,  infoniis  nie  llial  he 
has  taken  several  specimens  "and  saw  six  or  seven  indi\  idimls  he 
tween  Auo-nst  21st  and  Sept.  26th,  1876,  at  iriverdale,  Westchester 
Co.,  N.  Y. 

Now,  on  the  other  hand,  on  going  northward,  wi-  tind  it  hiceding 
at  Randolph,  Vermont  (Chas.  S.  Paine),§  and  ]\Ir.  Osborne  has  seen 
it  about  jNIt.  Washington.  "Audubon  found  it  in  Afaiiie,  on  the 
Magdeline  Islands,  and  on  the  coast  of  Labrador,"||  as  mentioned  liv 
Dr.  Brewer,  who  further  states  that  "Mr.  Hoardman  n-ports  the 
Olive-sided  Flycatcher  as  having  of  late  years  lieen  very  abundant 
during  the  summer  in  the  dead  woods  about  the  lakes  west  of  Calais 
[eastern  Maine]  where  formerly  they  were  quite  uncommon,"  an«l 
that  he  is  informed  by  Mr.  IToy  "that  this  sjiecies  used  to  be 
quite  common  near  Racine  [Wis(^onsiii],  frecpienting  the  e<Io-es  of 
thick  woods,  Avhere  tliey  nested.'''' 

From  the  above  references  it,  will  lie  seen  that  the  Oli\  I'-sided 
Flycatcher  belongs,  in  the  east,  to  the  Canadian  fauna,  while  it  (u-ca- 
sionally  extends  down  into  the  Alleghanian,  and,  if  Cooper''s  record 
can  l)e  relied  on,  stragglers  have  been  known  to  breed  in  the  Caroli- 
nian. Going  westward,  however,  the  case  is  fjuite  ditterent,  and  we 
find  Corito2riis  horeallshvoQiWwis,  in  numbers  from  the  "Cumberland 
House,  on  the  Saskatchewan,  in  latitude  54°,'"^  Avheiv  it  was  obtained 
by  Sir  John  Richardson,  and  described  l»y  Swainson  in  ls;}|  (this 
descri])tion  having  priority  over  NuttalTs,  which  was  not  published 
till  18:};3),  to  Camp  Rowie,  Arizona,  latitude  ;^2°,  "  within  one  hundred 
miles   of  Mexico,"   A\here   l)otli     "young   and    old    were    secured    in 


*  Report  Sect.  Maine  Board  Agriculture,  p.  170,  1805. 

f  Catalogue  of  the  Bird.s  of  Ohemung  Co ,  N.  Y.,  1)3-  W.  II.  Gregg,  ^f.D.  Fro 
Proceed.  Elmira  Academy  of  Sciences,  1S70. 

\  The  Food  of  Birds  as  related  to  Agriculture,  liy  J.  M.  Whcatoii,  M.D.  Fro 
Ohio  Agricultural  Report,  p.  8,  1874. 

§  Appendix  to  Zadoclv  Tliompson's  History  of  Vermont,  p.  21.     \XU?i. 

II  History  N.  Am.  Birds,  Baird,  Brewer  and  Ridgway.  vol.  ii.  p.  ?>M. 

Tf  Coues,  Birds  of  the  Nortliwest,  \y  214.     1874. 


56  (J.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

August,"  by  my  friend,  Mr.  II.  W.  Ilensli.iw,  who,  in  his  recent  excel- 
lent woi-k  on  the  birds  of  that  region,  observes  that  "Its  favorite 
perching  places  are  the  tops  of  the  high  i)ine  stubs.  From  tliese  sta- 
tions it  makes  frequent  sallies  after  passing  insects,  and  seems  rarely 
to  miss  its  prey.  When  thus  engaged,  the  clicking  noise  of  its  bill 
may  be  heard  quite  a  distance.  About  the  first  of  June,  in  southern 
Colorado,  they  had  all  mated,  and  each  pair  maintained  a  most 
Jealous  watch  over  the  neighborhood  chosen  as  its  summer  residence, 
never  allowing  the  intrusion  of  the  larger  birds  to  pass  minoticed. 
The  loud  call  notes  of  the  male  are,  at  this  season,  almost  incessantly 
repeated."*  Mr.  Ilenshaw  also  states  that  "  specimens  were  taken 
near  Camp  Apache  [Arizona]  in  July,  which  doubtless  were  breed- 
ing," and  that  he  "  found  it  almost  as  numerous  in  eastern  Arizona, 
quite  far  to  the  south,  as  in  Colorado." 

Numerous  specimens  have  been  taken  in  Colorado  l>y  Allen, f  Ilen- 
shaw, Aiken,  Trippe,  and  others.  Regarding  its  occurrence  at  Idaho 
Springs,  Colorado,  T.  Martin  Tri])pe  writes  Dr,  Coues  that  "  It  is 
quite  uncommon,  only  three  or  four  ]iairs  having  been  observed 
throughout  the  summer,  and  these  at  widely  different  points,  each  pair 
apparently  monopolizing  a  wide  range.  It  keeps  in  the  tops  of  the 
trees,  and  is  an  active  flycatcher;  its  noise  is  loud  and  distinct ;  and 
its  nest  is  placed  in  the  top  of  a  pine,  and  jealously  guarded  from  all 
intrusion  with  as  much  fierceness  and  energy  as  the  Kingbird's."| 
It  is  given  by  Snow  as  "  rare  in  western  Kansas."§  Notices  of  its 
occurrence  in  Utah  have  been  published  by  Allen  "  several  seen 
among  the  cottonwoods  along  Weber  River",||  Ilenshaw,!^  Ridgway 
"breeding  in  Parley's  Park,  Wahsatch  Mts.",**  Nelson  (who 
"  obtained  one  specimen  from  the  top  of  a  dead  i)ine,"  among  the 
mountains,   thirty  miles   soiath    of  Fort    Bridger),ff    and    myself  ;|| 

*  Report  upon  the  Ornithological  Collections  made  in  portions  of  Nevada,  Utah, 
California,  Colorado,  New  Mexico  and  Arizonia,  during  the  }rears  1871,  1812,  1873 
and  1874.  By  H.  W.  Henshaw.  Forming  Chapter  III  of  the  Zoological  Volume 
published  under  the  direction  of  Lieut.  Geo.  M.  Wheeler,  in  cliarge  of  tlie  Geographi- 
cal and  Geological  Explorations  and  Surveys  west  of  the  lOOtli  meridian,  p.  :$50. 
Washington.     1875. 

f  Bulletin  Museum  Comp.  Zool.  Camliridge,  vol.  ill,  No.  C,  p.  158.     1872. 

X  In  Cones'  Birds  of  the  Northwest,  p.  245.     1874. 

i^  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Kansas,     liy  F.  II.  Snow.     3d  ed.,  p.  8.     1875. 

II  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.  (!anil)ridge,  vol.  iii,  No.  6,  pp.  IGO,  170.     1872. 

^[  Report  upon  Ornithological  Specimens,  pp.  22,  46.     Wasli.      1871. 

**Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  vol.  vii,  No.  2,  p.  33.     Feb.,  1875. 

■|-f  Trocced.  T^oston  Soc.    Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  xvii,  p.  344.     Jan.,  1875. 

l:):  Sixth  Annual  Report  IT.  S.  Geol.  Survey  of  the  Territories  for  the  year  1872. 
p.  G91. 


(\  n.  MerrUitii  —  Jiirds  of  ('<>)ui<'cficiit.  57 

and  it  was  taken  in  Nevada  by  KisclioiV  (ncordcd  Ii\  I  Icnsli.iw  ),  ;in.I 
Ridgway,*  who  writes  me  as  follows  :  "  AltlioiiLili  1  lound  ii  at  \v\\ 
few  localities,  I  am  certain  of  its  occurrence  wlicicNcr  suitalilc  localities 

exist It  tliere  iidiabits  tlie  conilenms  wdods  at    an  altitnde 

of  from  about  8,000  feet  np  to  timber  line,  and  I  noticed  that  it  |ire- 
ferred  localities  where  the  trees  had  been  deadened  l)y  tire.  The 
only  places,  in  Nevada,  where  I  met  with  this  bird,  were  the  jiine 
woods  of  the  East  Humboldt  and  Ruby  Mountains."  Concerning  its 
occurrence  in  California,  Dr.  Cooper  says  :  "  It  seems  to  be  resident 
in  most  pai'ts  of  the  State  where  it  is  found,  but  not  occurring  south 
of  Monterey,  where  Dr.  Gambel  found  young  in  July.  I  fotnid  them 
rather  common  in  the  Coast  Range  toward  Santa  Cruz,  where  tliev 
had  nests  in  May,  but  I  could  not  examine  any  of  these,  their  loca- 
tion being  generally  on  a  high  inaccessible  braiu-h.  I  also  found  this 
bird  at  Lake  Tahoe  in  September.  It  is  rather  silent,  keeping  mostly 
on  tops  of  the  trees,  and  catching  passing  insects."f  JMr.  Ridgway 
also  found  it  breeding  in  California,  "  on  the  eastern  slojje  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada."  |  In  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory  it  is, 
according  to  Dr.  Cooper,  "  a  much  more  abundant  bird  near  the 
Columbia  River  and  throughout  the  northern  Rocky  Momitains. 
There  they  migrate,  remaining  at  the  Lower  Columbia  from  ]May  to 
October."!  Dr.  Brewer  writes :  "  In  Washington  Territory  this 
bird  appears  to  be  somewhat  more  common  than  in  other  portions  of 
the  United  States.  Dr.  Suckly  obtained  a  specimen  at  Fort  Steila- 
cooni,  July  10th,  1856.  It  was  not  very  abundant  about  Puget  Sound, 
and  showed  a  preference  for  shady  thickets  and  dense  foliage  [contrary 
to  its  usual  habit],  Avhere  it  was  not  easily  shot."  "A  single  speci- 
men," continues  Dr.  Brewer,  "was  taken,  Aug.  29th,  1840,  at  Nenor- 
talik,  Greenland  [bj^  Reinhardt],  and  sent  to  Copenhagen. "5$  Hence 
the  distribution  of  this  beautiful  and  interesting  Flycatcher  attbrds 
an  excellent  illustration  of  the  manner  in  which  some  species  that  an' 
confined,  during  the  breeding  season,  to  the  Canadian  and  Allegha- 
nian  faunoe  in  the  Eastern  Province,  are  found,  during  the  same  period, 
in  the  far  West,  extending  from  the  Saskatchewan,  in  Ibitish 
America,  almost,  if  not  quite,  to  Mexico. 


*  Bull.  Essex.  Inst.,  vol.  vii,  No.  1,  pp.  21,  38.     Jan.,  1875. 
f  Ornithology  of  California,  vol.  i,  p.  .324.     1870. 
X  Bull.  Essex.  Inst ,  vol.  vi.  No.  10,  p.  174.     Oct.,  1874. 
§Baird,  Brewer  and  Ridoway,  Birds  N.  .Vni.,  vol.  ii,  p.  .350.     187-1. 
Trans.  Conn.  Ac.\d.,  Vol.  IV.  «  July,  1877. 


58  C  H.  Merrlam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

124.   ContopUS  virens  (Linne)  Cabanis.         Wood  Pewee. 

A  common  summer  resident,  generally  placing  its  l)eautifnl  lichen- 
covered  nest  astride  the  horizontal  branch  of  some  tall  birch,  or  maple, 
in  deep  forests,  but  sometimes  choosing  an  orchard  or  garden,  in  close 
proximity  to  occupied  buildings.  Arrives  before  the  middle  of  May 
(May  10,  1876,  Osborne),  remaining  through  September.  It  is  one  of 
the  few  birds  that  may  be  found  alike,  during  the  breeding  season,  in 
the  heart  of  the  city,  near  the  farm  house,  and  in  the  darkest  swamps 
and  most  secluded  forests,  far  from  the  habitations  of  man.  Its 
mournful  note  may  sometimes  be  heard  at  all  hours  of  the  night. 

1  25.  Empidonax  AcadicUS  (Gmelin)  Baird.        Acadian  Flycatcher ;  Small 
Green-crested  Flycatcher. 

A  rare  summer  visitant  from  the  Middle  States  ;  may  breed  in  the 
Connecticut  Valley. 

It  affords  me  great  pleasure  to  be  able,  thi'ough  the  kindness  of 
Mr.  Erwin  I.  Shores,  to  replace  this  species  among  the  birds  of  New 
England.  As  is  well  known,  it  was  formerly  included  in  all  New 
England  lists,  but,  as  shown  by  Dr.  Coues,  Mr,  H.  W.  Henshaw,  and 
others,  the  records  were  founded  on  erroneous  identifications — the 
bird  liaving  been  mistaken  for  E.  ?ninimus  or  Traillii,  generally  the 
former.  In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Coues,  Dr.  Brewer  says  "  I  do  not  think 
the  bird  occurs  in  New  England,  even  in  the  Connecticut  Valley,"* 
and  Mr.  William  Brewster,  of  Cambridge,  the  highest  authority  on 
the  Birds  of  New  England,  has  expressed  similar  views.  Hence  it 
was  with  a  peculiar  sense  of  gratification  that  I  received,  a  few  days 
since,  an  unmistakable  example  of  this  species,  from  Mr.  Shores,  who 
states  that  he  shot  it  "  in  Suffield,  Conn.,  June  24th,  1874,  in  a  piece 
of  woods  known  as  Beech  Swamp."  For  the  benefit  of  those  who 
might  not  feel  disposed  to  accept  my  identification  in  so  important  a 
matter,  and  to  avoid  all  possibility  of  mistake,  I  at  once  sent  the  bird 
to  my  friend  Mr.  Robert  llidgway,  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution, 
and  he  ])ronounces  it  to  be  a  "  ty])ical  M  Acadicus.''^ 

126.  Empidonax  Traillii  (Audubon)  Baird.         Traill's  Flycatcher. 

A  connnon  sunniier  i-esident,  arriving  early  in  May  (May  0,  1877). 
Frequents  swam])y  lowlands,  where  it  breeds. 


*  Birds  of  the  Northwest,  p.  25 1 .     1 814. 


C  II.  JMen-idiii — liii'ds  of  ('(Hiinctiiiit.  59 

127.  Empidonax  minimus  Bainl.         Least  Flycati-hor. 

An  abundant  suninuT  ivsidciit,  anivinir early  in  May  (May  :.,  1-^77), 
and  remaining  till  late  in  September.  IJreeds  abnndantly  in  -ard«ais 
tlirontihout  the  city. 

128.  Empidonax  flaviventris  Baird.         Yellow-licllied  I'lycatclier. 
Not  unconnnon  durino-  migrations;  arrives  about    the    middle  u|" 

May  (May  20,  1870),  remainino-  till  the  last  of  the  month,  and  .Mr. 
Griunell  tells  me  he  has  seen  it  in  early  June.  Have  taken  it  in  lall, 
about  the  middle  of  September  (Sept.  17,  1875).  Not  known  to 
breed. 

Family,  CAPRIMULGID^. 

129.  Antrostomus  VOCiferUS  (Wilson)  Bonaparte..        Wliippoorwill. 

A  common  summer  resident.  Arrives  early  in  May  (May  2,  1877, 
Osborne).  Nocturnal,  spendino-  the  day  on  the  uround  l)eneath  some 
tree,  or  among  thick  bushes.  When  disturbed,  its  flight  is  short  and 
irregular,  and  it  may  easily  be  shot.  The  Stadtmiiller  Brothers  have 
an  unusually  pale  set  of  eggs  taken  on  IMill  Rock  (near  New  Haven) 
May  30th,  1875.  "  They  were  not  placed  by  the  side  of  a  rock  <n- 
log,  as  Samuels  says."* 

130.  Chordeiles    Virginianus    (Brisson)    Bonaparte.  Xiglit-hawk; 

Buli-bat. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  eai-ly  in  May  (^lay  11,  1875, 
Sage).  Mr.  W,  W.  Coe  has  taken  its  eggs  as  late  as  June  23d  (1872). 
By  no  means  strictly  nocturnal  like  the  last,  but  may  be  seen,  espe- 
cially in  autumn,  flying  about  high  in  the  air  and  constantly  uttering 
its  peculiar  cry,  at  any  hour  of  the  day,  though  generally  preferring 
the  twilight.  Commonly  roosts  on  old  logs  or  horizontal  lind)s 
(sometimes  quite  high  up)  on  which  they  lie  longitudinally, 

131.  Chaetura  pelagica  (Linne)  Baird.         Chimney  Swift. 

An  abundant  summer  resident,  arriving  in  April  or  ]\Iay  (.Vpril 
14,  1876,  Osborne;  April  30,  1877,  May  5,  1874,  Portland,  Sage; 
May  8,  1874),  and  remaining  till  late  in  September  (Sept.  27, 
Osborne);  breeds  abundantly  in  old  chinmeys.     Before  the  days  of 

*  MS.  notes  of  the  Stadtmiiller  Brothers. 


60  C.  11.  Merriata — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

brick  cliiiuneys,  and  to  some  extent  since,  these  birds  used  to  congre- 
gate in  multitudes  about  certain  large  hollow  trees,  where  they  bred 
regularly,  and,  according  to  some,  spent  the  winter  also.  Williams, 
in  bis  "  Natural  and  Civil  History  of  Vermont,"  published  in  ]  794, 
relates  the  following  concerning  three  "  Swallow  trees"  which  came 
under  his  observation.  "The  species  called  the  house  or  Chimney 
Swallow,  has  been  found  during  the  winter,  in  hollow  trees.  At 
Middlehury  in  this  State,  there  was  a  large  boUow  elm,  called  by  the 
people  in  the  vicinity  the  Swallow  tree.  From  a  man  who,  for  several 
years,  lived  within  tAventy  rods  of  it,  I  procured  this  information: 
He  always  thought  the  Swallows  tarried  in  the  tree  through  the 
winter,  and  avoided  cutting  it  down,  on  that  account.  About  the 
first  of  May,  the  Swallows  came  out  of  it,  in  large  numbers,  about  the 
middle  of  the  day;  and  soon  returned.  As  the  weather  grew  warmer, 
they  came  out  in  the  morning  with  a  loud  noise,  or  roar,  and  were 
soon  dispersed;  about  halt  an  hour  before  sun  down,  they  returned 
in  millions,  circulating  two  or  three  times  round  the  tree,  and  then 
descending  like  a  stream,  into  a  hole  about  sixty  feet  from  the  ground. 
It  was  customary  for  persons  in  the  vicinity,  to  visit  this  tree,  to 
observe  the  motions  of  these  birds.  And  when  any  persons  dis- 
turbed their  operations,  by  striking  violently  against  the  tree,  with 
their  axes,  the  Swallows  would  rush  out  in  millions,  and  with  a  great 
noise.  In  November,  1791,  the  top  of  this  tree  was  blown  down, 
twenty  feet  below  where  the  Swallows  entered.  There  has  been  no 
appearance  of  the  Swallows  since.  Upon  cutting  down  the  remain- 
der, an  immense  quantity  of  excrements,  quills,  and  feathers,  were 
found;  but  no  appearance  or  relicks  of  any  nests.  Another  of  these 
swallow  trees  was  at  Bridport.  The  man  who  lived  the  nearest  to 
it,  gave  this  account :  The  Swallows  were  first  obs(H-ved  to  come  out 
of  the  tree,  in  the  spring;  about  the  time  that  the  leaves  first  began 
to  appear  on  tlu-  trees.  P^'rcmi  that  season,  they  come  out  in  the 
morning,  about  half  an  hour  after  sunrise.  They  rushed  out  like  a 
stream,  as  big  as  the  hole  in  the  tree  would  admit,  and  ascended  in  a 
perpendicular  line,  until  they  were  about  the  height  of  the  adjacent 
trees;  tlien  assumed  a  circular  motion,  performing  their  revolutions 
tAVO  or  three  times,  but  ahvays  in  a  larger  circle,  and  then  dispei-sed 
in  every  direction.  A  little  before  sundown,  they  i-eturned  in  im- 
mense numbers,  foiming  several  circulai'  motions,  and  then  descended 
like  a  stream  into  the  hole,  from  Avhence  they  came  out  in  the  morn- 
ing. About  the  middle  of  September,  they  Avere  seen  entering  the 
tree,  for  the  last  time."     "  Neither  of  these   accounts  are  attended 


C  If.  Men-id  III — llh-ilx  of  Coiiinctiriif.  (Jl 

witli  till'  liinlicst  di'Li'i-i'i'  of  (.'vidriicr,  wliicli  the  Milijcct  iii,i\  :iilinit  (.!': 
but  1  am  K'd  to  bi'lii'vc  from  tliom,  lliat  tlu'  IIoiisi'  SwmIIuu,  in  tliis 
part  of  Amoric-a,  ni'iu'rally  resides  diuiiiy;  llie  winter,  in  tin-  li(ill..\v  <.f 
trees."* 

The  tree  above  describi'd,  from  Middlebury,  \'enii(iiit,  linallv  bliw 
down,  and,  more  tlian  half  a  century  (in  )852)  after  Williams  wrote 
the  account  above  given  of  it,  its  remains  were  visited  by  his  siic- 
cessoi",  in  the  historical  line,  Zadock  Tliompson,  and  wcif  tound 
scarcely  less  interesting  than  the  tree  itself  when  inhabited  by  thou- 
sands of  Swifts.  Thompson  gave  this  account  of  its  condition  and 
contents  in  1852  :  "The  tree  had  rotted  away,  leaving  little  besides 
the  cylindrical  mass,  which  had  filled  its  hollow.  The  length  of  this 
mass  was  about  seven  feet,  and  its  diameter  fifteen  inches.  Of  the 
materials  which  composed  it,  about  one-half  consisted  of  the  feathers 
of  the  Chimney  Swallow,  being,  for  the  most  part,  wing  and  tail 
feathers.  The  other  half  was  made  up  of  exuvia  of  insects,  mostly 
fragments  and  eggs  of  the  large  wood-ant,  and  a  brown  substance 
probably  derived  from  the  decayed  wood  of  the  interior  of  the  tree. 
This  discovery  at  Middlebury,  though  interesting,  would  not  have 
been  regarded  as  very  remarkable,  if  the  materials  which  filled  the 
hollow  of  the  tree,  had  been  promiscuously  and  disorderly  mingled 
together.  Such  a  jumbled  mass  Avould  be  what  we  should  expect  to 
find  in  a  hollow  tree  which  had  been,  for  centuries,  perhajis,  the 
roosting  place  of  myriads  of  Swallows.  But  this  is  not  the  case. 
In  their  general  arrangement,  the  larger  feathers  have  nearly  all  their 
quills  pointing   outward,  while  their   j)lumes,  or  ends  on  which  their 

webs   are  arranged,   point  inward But  this  is  not  the  most 

remarkable  circumstance  connected  with  the  subject.  In  \arious 
parts  of  the  mass,  are  found,  in  some  cases,  all  the  primary  feathers 
of  the  wing;  in  others,  all  the  feathers  of  the  tail,  lying  together  in 
contact,  and  in  precisely  the  same  order  and  position,  in  which  they 
are  found  in  the  living  Swallow.  In  a  lump  of  the  materials,  meas- 
uring not  more  than  seven  inches  by  five,  and  less  than  three  inches 
thick,  five  wings  and  two  tails  were  plainly  seen,  with  their  feathers 
arranged  as  above  mentioned,  and  in  one  of  the  wings,  all  the  second- 
ary quills  were  also  arranged  in  their  true  position  with  regai-d  to 
the  primaries.  Now,  we  cannot  conceive  it  possible  that  these  feath- 
ers could  be  shed  by  living  birds,  and  be  thus  deposited.     We  may 


*  The  Natural  and  Civil   History  of  Vermont.     By  Samuel  Williams,   pp.    1  HJ-IS. 
1794. 


62  C  H.  Merriam, — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

suppose  that  tlie  birds  died  there,  and  that  tlieir  Hesh  liad  been  re- 
moved by  decay,  or  by  insects,  without  deranging  the  feathers.  But 
in  that  case  what  lias  become  of  the  skeletons?  I  do  not  learn  that  a 
bone,  beak,  or  a  claw,  has  been  found  in  any  part  of  the  whole  mass. 
What  then  has  become  of  these  ?  They  could  hardly  have  been  re- 
moved by  violent  means,  without  disturbing  the  feathers.  But,  if 
done  quietly,  what  did  it  ?  What  insect  would  devour  the  bones,  and 
beak,  and  claws,  and  not  meddle  with  the  quills?  Or  woiild  the 
formic,  or  any  other  acid,  which  might  be  generated  within  the  mass, 
dissolve  the  former  without  aifecting  the  latter?"* 

Family,  TROCHILID.^. 

1 32.  Trochilns  COlubris  Linue.         Ruby-throated  Hummingbird. 

A  common  summer  resident.  Arrives  early  in  May  (May  5,  1877), 
remaining  till  the  middle  of  October  (Oct.  5,  1876;  Oct.  16,  1874). 
They  usually  breed  early  in  June,  Init  Dr.  F.  W,  Hall  informs  me 
that  a  friend  of  his  found  a  nest  completed,  and  containing  two  eggs, 
as  early  as  May  27th  (1877). 

Thomas  Morton,  in  1682,  expressed  his  astonishment  at  the  dimen- 
sions and  habits  of  this  bird,  in  the  following  words  :  "  There  is  a 
curious  bird  to  see  to,  called  a  hunning  bird,  no  bigger  than  a 
great  Beetle  ;  that  out  of  question  lives  upon  the  Bee,  which  he 
eateth  and  catcheth  amongst  Flowers.  For  it  is  his  custome  to  fre- 
quent these  places.  Flowers  hee  cannot  feed  upon  by  reason  of  his 
sharp  bill,  which  is  like  the  poynt  of  a  Spanish  needle,  but  shorte. 
His  fethei's  have  a  glasse  like  silke,  and  as  hee  stin-es,  they  show  to 
be  of  a  chaingable  coloure  :  and  has  l)in,  and  is  admired  for  shape, 
coloure,  and  size."f  And  two  years  later,  William  Wood,  in  his 
"  New  England's  Prospect"  informs  us  that  "  The  Plumbird  is  one  of 
the  wonders  of  the  Countrey,  being  no  bigger  than  a  Hornet,  yet 
hath  all  the  demensions  of  a  Bird,  as  bill,  and  wings,  with  quills, 
s]>ider-like  legges,  small  claAves  :  For  colour  she  is  as  glorious  as  the 
Ivaine-bow  ,  as  she  flies,  she  makes  a  little  humming  noise  like  a 
I  Iiimbli'-lu'i' :    wherefore  slice  is  calliMl  the  IIuinbird."| 

"  Tlie  llumberd  for  some  Queone's  ricli  Cage  more  fit, 
Than  in  the  vacant  Wildernesse  to  sit."| 

*  Zadock  Thompson,  Appendix  to  the  History  of  Vermont,  p.  26,  1853. 

f  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  vol.  ii,  Tract  5,  p.  50. 

X  New  England's  Prospect,  by  "William  Wood.  p.  31,  1034. 


C.  11.  jSTerrimn — lilnis  of  ( 'otnicrtlciit.  0;i 

Family,  ALCEDINID^. 

133.  Ceryle  alcyon  (T.inno)  iioie.         Hcltcd  Kin^lislier. 

A  coininoii  suninu'V  ivsiilont  Ml)Oiit  Avatcr  ('(nirsi'S  and  aloiii;-  the 
coast.  Arrives  during-  tlie  latter  [lart  of  Marcli  (Mar.  20,  1S77),  re- 
maining into  November  (Nov.  i:^,  1S75).  A  few  sonieliines  winter. 
One  was  seen  near  Hartford,  Feb.  13,  1874,  by  Mr.  K.  ('.  I  liunplirey.* 
Mr.  P^'red.  S.  Smith,  of  this  city,  informs  me  tliat  he  onee  found 
the  eggs  of  this  species  phiced  on  a  bed  of  tisli  bones,  about  six  feet 
from  the  entrance  to  tlie  hole.  This  was  near  Lake  Wliitnev,  Conn. 
In  this  hititude  their  eggs  are  generally  deposited  during  tlu'  latter 
part  of  May.  Josselyn,  in  enumerating  the  birds  of  New  England, 
in  1675,  says  there  are  '■'•  Kings  fishers,  which  breed  in  the  spring  in 
holes  in  the  Sea-bank,  l)eing  unapt  to  pro])agate  in  Summer,  by 
reason  of  the  driness  of  their  bodies,  which  becomes  more  moist 
when  their  pores  are  closed  l)y  cold."f 

Family,  CUCULID^. 

134.  CoCCyZUS  erythrophthalmuS  (Wilson)  Bonaparte.         Black -billed 
Cuckoo. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  about  the  middle  of  May 
(May  15,  1870),  and  remaining  till  the  latter  ))ait  of  Sei)temlier 
(Sept.  28,  1875). 

135.  CoCCyzUS  AmericanUS  (Linne)  Bonaparte.         Yellow-billed  Cuckoo. 

A  common  summer  resident.  Arrives  eai-ly  in  ^lay  (May  7,  1876), 
remaining  into  October  (Oct.  11,  1873,  shot,  Hall).  Both  Mr.  Coe 
and  myself  have  found,  on  the  same  day,  and  in  the  same  Cuckoo's 
nest,  fresh  eggs  and  young  birds. 

Family,  PICID^. 

136.  HylotomUS  pileattlS  (Linne)  Baird.         Piieated  Woodpecker. 

A  rare  winter  visitant ;  it  was  once  common  throughout  the  State, 
but  is  now  almost  exterminated  and  driven  into  the  less  civili/i'd  dis- 
tricts. Linsley  gave  it  from  Stratford  and  New  Haven.  Mr.  ^V.  \\ . 
Coe  tells  me  that   a  specimen  was  killed  near  Portland,  Conn.,  in 

*  MS.  notes  of  John  H.  Sage,  Esq. 

f  Voj^ages  to  New  England,  p.  101,  l<;7.'i. 


64  C.  H.  Merrlam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

November,  1S76;  and  "  Mr.  Wm.  Kino- took  a  specimen,  several  years 
ago,  at  Suffield,  Conn."*  No  longer  ago  than  18:S9,  Peabody  gave  it 
as  resident  in  Massachusetts,  where  it  was  "  not  uncommon  in  the 
woodlands."f 

137.  Picus  villosns  Linne.         Hairy  Woodpecker. 

Resident,  Init  not  common.  Have  taken  four  specimens  and  seen 
several  others  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  New  Haven.  Found 
chiefly  in  winter.  Mr.  Coe  tells  me  that  it  is  quite  common  about 
Portland,  Conn. 

138.  Picus  pubescens  Linne.         Downy  Woodpecker. 

A  common  resident ;  found  everywhere  except  in  open  fields 
devoid  of  stumps  and  fences. 

139.  Picoides    arcticns  (Swainson)  Gray.     Black -liacked  Three-toed  Wood- 

pecker. 

A  rare  winter  visitor  from  the  North.  In  the  Museum  at  Middle- 
town  is  a  specimen,  from  the  Shurtletf  Collection,  taken  at  Simsbury, 
Conn.,  in  1860.  Dr.  Wood  has  also  taken  it  at  East  Windsor  Hill, 
Conn. 

140.  SphyrapicuS  varius  (Linne)  Baird.         Yellow-bellied  Woodpecker. 

Hare  aboi;t  New  Haven.  Have  seen  but  four  individuals  (Sept. 
28,  and  Oct.  2,  1875,  and  March  30,  and  May  8,  1876).  Mr.  J.  N. 
Clark  finds  it  to  be  "abundant  in  fall"  at  Saybrook.J  Linsley  gave 
it  from  New  London,  Conn.  It  is  rare  al)out  Portland,  Conn.,  as  I 
'  am  informed  by  IMessrs.  Coe  and  Sage.  Mr.  Thos.  Osborne  tells  me 
that  they  were  quite  common  about  New  Haven  last  fall  (1876)  and 
that  he  secured  four  specimens.  Mr.  Grimiell  says  that  it  is  not 
uncomm.on  about  Milford,  Conn.,  in  fall;  and  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark,  of 
Saybrook,  writes  me  that  he  has  observed  it  to  be  "  very  common 
both  in  spring  and  lall,"  but  that  he  "  never  saw  it  after  April  till 
autumn." 

Though  most  Woodi)eckers  are  residents  where  they  are  found  at 


*  MS.  notes  of  Erwin  I.  Shores. 

\  Peabody's  Report  on  the  Ornithology  of  Mass.,  p.  334.     18:59. 

X  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  No.  11,  p.  GO:!.     Nov.,  1873. 


(\  II.  McrriiDit — ll'ifih  of  i'oiniccllriit.  05 

all,  ill  any  miniln'rs,  lliis  is  truly,  tlioui^li  not  slricl  ly,  a  inl'j.iaiil.* 
Dr.  Will.  (),  Ayros  writes  mo:  "  At  New  Canaan,  ("nun.,  I  used  to 
find  tlu'in  oacli  ant umn,  tliouL;,li  never  very  nunieidiis  ;  I  nevei- saw 
them  in  tlie  spring. 

141.  Centurus   Carolinus  (Linne)  Swainson.         Rod-r)ollied  Woodpoc-ker. 

A  rare  accidental  visitor  from  tlie  South.  Linsley  saw  one  "an- 
cending  an  apple  tree,  on  tlie  16th  of  October,  1842."f  Dr.  C'rary 
says  he  lias  killed  it  near  Hartford,  Conn.  ;  and  Mr.  Erwiii  I.  Shores 
writes  me  that  he  "took  a  female,  July  .'{0th,  1874,"  at  Suflield,  Conn. 
Giraud  gave  it  as  breeding  regularly  on  Long  Island,  though  not 
very  common.  J 

142.  Melanerpes  erythrocephalus  (Limu-)  Swainson.         Ued-iieadcd 

Woodpecker. 

K  rare  summer  resident ;  breeds  at  Saybrook,  sometinu's  remaining 
all  winter.§  Linsley  gave  it  from  Stratford,  and  Dr.  .1.  D.  AVhelpley 
informed  him  that  it  was  "  rare  at  New  IIaven"f  tliirty-tive  years 
ago,  and,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  its  numbers  have  not  increased  since. 
In  fact,  as  Dr.  Cones  has  remarked  :  "  C^omparisons  of  the  older  with 
more  recent  local  authorities  indicate  that  the  sjx'cies  is  now  inuch 
less  numerous  than  formei-ly."|  Dr.  P\  W.  Hall  took  one  at  West 
Haven  in  December,  1872,  and  has  seen  several  other  s})cciinens  in 
this  vicinity.  W.  W.  Coe  and  J.  H.  Sage  have  eacli  taken  it  al)out 
Portland,  Conn.,  but  find  it  rarely.  Dr.  Wood,  of  East  Windsor 
Hill,  tells  me  that  they  were  really  abundant,  in  tliat  vicinity,  thirty- 
five  years  ago,  being  more  numerous  than  the  Flicker  ( Colaptes 
auratus).  Four  years  later  a  large  flock  was  seen,  and  since  tlien 
they  have  been  one  of  our  rare  birds.  A  few,  however,  still  breed 
pretty  regularly  in  the  vicinity  of  East  Windsor,  Conn.  IMr.  .1.  N. 
Clark  informs  me  that,  during  the  latter  pait  of  Septeml)er,  1872, 
they  suddenly  became  abundant  in  a  grove  of  oaks  near  Saybrook, 
Conn.  The  adult  birds  Avere  mostly  killed  off"  by  boys  from  the 
neighborhood,  while  the  young-of-the-year,  lacking  the  brilliant  and 


*For  a  valuable  contribution  to  tlie  tjiography  of  tliis  beautiful  Woodpecker,  sec 
an  article  by  William  Brewster,  in  Bull.  Nutt.  Oruitb.  ("lub,  vol.  i,  No.  I!,  pp.  <;:?-70. 
Sept.,  1876. 

f  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2,  p.  2fi:{.     April,  1S4;?. 

X  Birds  of  Long  Island,  p.  179.     1844. 

§  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  No.  11,  p.  09:'..     Nov.,  187:!. 

II A  List  of  the  Birds  of  New  England.     [From  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  vol.  v,  p.  1 5.  |     i  S(58. 

Trans.  Conn.  Ac.\d.,  Vol.  IV.  9  .Ti'i.v,   IS77. 


66  C.  H.  Merriam — Binh  of  Connecticut. 

much  prized  red  heads,  were  8]>ared  and  remained  tlirougli  the  winter 
— some  even  breeding  there  tlie  next  summer  (1873).  Mr.  J.  H. 
Sage  killed  one  at  Hartford,  Dec.  31st,  of  the  same  winter  (1872). 
Their  food  consisted  chiefly  of  acorns.  In  this  connection  I  Avill  state 
that  in  northern  New  York  (Lewis  Co.),  where  they  are  usually  one 
of  our  commonest  Woodpeckers,  they  subsist  almost  exclusively  on 
beech-nuts,  of  which  they  evidently  are  extremely  fond,  eating  them, 
apparently  with  equal  relish,  whether  green  or  fully  matured.  It  is 
truly  a  beautiful  sight  to  watch  these  magnificent  birds,  together 
with  their  equally  abundant  cousins,  the  Yellow-bellied  Woodpeckers 
{Sphyrapicns  varius),  creeping  about,  after  the  manner  of  the  War- 
blers, among  the  small  branches  and  twigs,  which  bend  low  with  their 
weight,  while  picking  and  husking  the  tender  nuts — the  bright  crim- 
son of  the  head,  neck  and  breast,  the  glossy  blue-black  back,  and 
creamy-white  belly,  together  with  the  scarcely  less  striking  colors  of 
their  yellow-bellied  companions,  contrast  handsomely  with  the  deep 
green  foliage. 

143.  Colaptes  auratUS  (Liime)   Swainson.         Golden-winged  Woodpecker; 

Yellow-hammer;  High-holder;  Flicker;  Yaffle. 

Resident;  common  from  early  April  till  November.  A  few 
generally  winter.  It  breeds  in  holes  in  old  stubs  and  trees.  The 
migrants  arrive  during  the  latter  part  of  March  (March  28),  remain- 
ing till  the  middle  or  latter  part  of  November  (Nov.  14  and  28).  My 
friend,  Mr.  A.  J.  Dayan,  saw  one,  near  New  Haven,  on  the  26th  of 
January,  1877.  Mr.  Geo.  ]>ird  Grinnell  tells  me  that  he  has  taken  it, 
near  Milford,  Conn.,  in  December  (Dec.  25,  187(5),  January  (Jan.  1, 
1877),  and  February  (Feb.  27,  1875).  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  M'ritos  me 
that  they  also  spend  the  winter  in  the  vicinity  of  Portland,  Conn. 

Kalm  states,  in  his  Travels,  that  "  this  species  is  destructive  to 
maize-fields  and  orchards,  for  it  pecks  through  the  ears  of  maize,  and 

eats   apples Some   years   ago   there   was   a   premium  of  two 

pence  per  head,  paid  from  the  public  funds,  in  order  to  extirjiate  this 
]»ernicious  bird."* 

Family,  STRIG-ID^. 

144.  Strix  flammea,  var.  Americana  (Audui.on)  Schi,       Bam  Owl. 

A  rare  accidental  visitor  from  the  South.  Taken  ])y  Linsley  at 
Stratford,  Conn.f     l*rof.  J.   A.  Allen  states  that  Di-.  Wood  "  has  a 

*  Peter  Kalm'a  Travels  into  North  Anierira,  vol.  ii.  pp.  80-7.     1771. 
f  Catal.  Birds  Conn.,  p.  25."?.      1  84:!. 


(\   II.    Ml  rrniiii — llirds  oj' i'umiicl'irut .  07 

speciiiK'ii  in  liis  ciibiiiol  tluiL  was  shot  \il  Siulicnrs  1  lead,  ( "uiiiu'ctiriit , 
Oct.  28tli,  ISUS/"*  IMnssachusc'tts  also  lays  claim  to  (wo  spcciiiu'iis  : 
the  first  "  was  killed  near  Springtield,  ]\Iass.,  about  tlie  last  of  May," 
1868, f  and  the  otlicr  "was  shot  near  Lynn,  in  the  same  Stale,  in 
18(38."J 

Since  wa-iting  tlic  above  I  have  seen,  in  the  cabinet  of  Capt.  O.  N. 
Brooks,  at  Faulkner's  Island,  Conn.,  a  mounted  specimen  of  (his 
species  which  was  killed  at  Madison,  Conn.,  some  years  ago  ;  and 
Dr.  Wm.  O.  Ayres,  now  of  Easthampton,  Long  Island,  \vri(es  me 
that  he  found  one  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  about  tlie  year  1841.  Hence 
at  least  four  have  been  killed  in  this  State. 

145.   Bubo  Virginianus  (Gmclin)  Bonaparto.         Great  Horned  Owl. 

Resident;  not  rare.  Breeds  in  suitable  localities  throughout  the 
State.  It  feeds  on  the  larger  game  (hares,  grouse,  and  the  like),  not 
forgetting  the  poultry  yard,  and  seems  particularly  fond  of  turkeys, 
of  which  it  seldom  touches  more  than  the  head,  if  there  are  a  i)lenty 
about.  Indeed  I  have  know^i  one  to  kill  and  decapitate  three  turkeys 
and  several  hens  in  a  single  night,  leaving  the  bodies  uninjured  and 
fit  for  the  table.  Hence,  if  not  so  prone  to  select  valuable  fowls  the 
loss  would  not  be  great.  Their  tenacity  to  life  is  something  remark- 
able. A  number  of  years  ago  I  kept  one  in  confinement  for  six  or 
eight  months,  during  which  time  I  was  twice  attacked  l)y  him  and 
bear  tlie  marks  of  his  talons  to  this  day.  On  both  of  these  occasions 
I  kicked  and  pounded  him  with  sticks  till  he  was,  as  I  supposed, 
dead,  but  always  on  returning  to  skin  the  bird  I  found  him  sitting  up 
on  his  perch,  blinking,  snapping  his  bill,  and  making  faces  at  me  as 
usual.  Dr.  Wood  Avrites  that  a  gentleman,  while  viewing  one  of 
this  species  in  his  collection,  said:  "I  suppose  that  is  the  kind  of  binl 
that  once  scared  me  almost  to  death.  While  riding  on  lioi'seback 
througli  a  tract  of  large  woods  in  New^  York  State,  one  night,  with  a 
white  beaver  on  my  head,  something,  without  the  least  noise  or 
warning,  struck  my  head  with  such  force  that  it  took  my  hat,  and  I 
supposed  for  a  time  the  top  of  my  head  ofi'.  I  thought  tlie  devil  was 
after  me,  and  the  way  that  old  horse  wa^nt  for  the  next  tliree  miles 
would  have  astonished  John  Gilpin.     It  seemed  to  me  my  heart  beat 


*  Notes  on  some  of  tlie  Rarer  Birds  of  Massachusetts,  p.  17.     1869.     1  liave  lately 
seen  this  specimen. 

f  Proceed.  Essex  Institute,  vol.  v,  p.  312. 

X  Coues'  Birds  of  the  Northwest,  p.  .'lOO.     1S74. 


68  C.  JI.  Merrlain — lilrds  of  Con'itecticut. 

loiulcr  tliaii  an  ordinary  church   bell,  and   I   had   to   swallow   last  to 
keep  it  from  coming  into  my  throat  and  choking  me."* 

My  friend,  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe,  of  Portland,  Conn.,  has  had  such 
remarkable  success  in  finding  the  nests,  and  securing  the  eggs,  of  this 
species,  that  I  was  induced  to  trouble  him  for  an  account  of  some  of 
his  exploits  in  that  direction,  and  he  has  been  kind  enough  to  fevor 
me  with  the  followhig  :  "  In  18C8,  a  fanner's  boy  told  me  that  a  pair 
of  Great  Horned  Owls  and  their  two  young  had  taken  up  their  abode 
in  a  piece  of  woods  near  his  place,  and  that  a  pair  had  lived  there  for 
several  years.  He  had  often  seen  them  when  at  work  in  the  woods 
in  winter,  and  observed  them  one  morning  on  the  lower  limbs  of  a 
large  hemlock.  One  sat  on  a  branch  directly  above  the  other  and 
had  a  rabbit  in  its  claws,  upon  which  they  both  seemed  to  be  feeding. 
He  watched  them  for  sometime  and  then  frightened  them  off.  The 
bird  with  the  rabbit  carried  it  with  him  a  short  distance,  but  finally 
dropped  it.  The  boy  offered  to  shoot  one  of  the  Owls  for  me,  but  I 
told  him  not  to  do  it,  for  I  wanted  to  get  the  eggs,  if  possible,  the 
next  year. 

"  On  the  first  of  May,  1869,  we  went  to  look  for  the  nest  and  found 
it  in  a  large  chestnut  tree.  It  contained  two  young  Owls  almost  large 
enough  to  fly.  I  l)rought  them  both  home,  stuffed  one,  and  ke[»t  the 
other  alive  sometime,  when  it  got  killed  while  I  avus  away.  During 
the  latter  part  of  March,  18*70,  we  went  again  and  found  the  Owls 
occupying  the  same  nest.  One  old  bird  was  on,  and  I  thought  my- 
self sure  of  the  eggs  this  time,  but  on  ascending  to  the  nest  found 
two  young  Owls  covered  with  down.  They  were,  I  should  think, 
about  two  weeks  old,  so  we  left  them  for  seed  and  determined  to  be 
in  time  next  season,  but  sickness  and  extra  woi'k  forced  me  to  neglect 
it.  In  the  following  year  (1872)  we  started  out  on  the  2d  of  March 
and  visited  the  old  nest,  but  for  some  reason  it  had  been  abandoned. 
We  then  visited  another  piece  of  woods  near  by  and  soon  found  a 
vary  large  nest  in  a  chestnut  tree,  but  it  showed  no  sign  of  life. 
While  deliberating  whether  it  was  best  to  climb  it  or  not,  I  gave  the 
tree  several  hard  raps  with  a  club,  when  off"  went  the  old  bird  with  a 
hoo,  hoo^  hoo.  My  companion  climbed  the  tree  and  fomid  two  eggs. 
I  thought  they  might  lay  again,  since  it  was  so  early,  and  accordingly, 
on  the  12th  of  April,  visited  the  same  nest,  and,  on  getting  near,  a 
bird  jumped  up  from  it  which  I  at  first  took  to  be  the  OavI,  but  as  it 
started  off"  I  saw  it   was  a  Red-tailed   Hawk,  which   we  found  had 

*  TTiirtford  Times,  chap,  xvii,  July  20,  18f>l. 


C  II.  Merriaiii — liinls  nf  CuunrtliKt.  (J9 

taken  ptisscssioii  ami  layi'<l  two  eggs.  \\\'tlK'ii  \\v\\{  td  \\\v  oM  Owl's 
nest,  whiMV  we  had  tVniinl  young  in  IStiO  and  It^To,  and  Inimd  lluold 
bird  on.  This  nest  now  eonlained  two  ejigs  in  wliieli  the  yoini*'-  were 
well  advaneed — so  the  old  birds  must  have  hiid  again  soon  alter  the 
first  nest  was  robbed. 

^  "About  the  first  of  IMareh,  187;J,  we  again  visited  the  same  place 
but  could  not  find  the  birds,  though  I  noticed  one  of  their  feathers, 
and,  since  snow  had  fallen  a  day  or  two  before,  I  know  they  could  not 
be  far  oft.  Finally,  on  the  13tli  of  jMarch,  I  found  them  occupying  a 
nest  about  two  miles  from  the  old  place.  It  was  the  old  nest  of  a 
Red-tailed  Hawk  from  which  I  took  three  eggs  April  29th,  1872.  The 
nest  now^  contained  one  young  Owl,  apparently  about  five  or  six  days 
old,  and  one  rotten  Q^g.  I  think  the  egg  had  been  frozen,  for  it  was 
badly  cracked.  I  am,  of  course,  unable  to  say  whether  or  no  all  the 
eggs  above  mentioned  wei'e  deposited  by  the  same  j)air  of  Owls,  since 
three  or  four  old  birds  have  been  killed  in  this  vicinity.  However,  I 
am  quite  sure  that  they  all  belonged  to  the  same  family.  I  also  took 
their  nests  in  1874  (Feb.  28),  1875  (took  young  in  May),  1876  (Feb. 
22),  and  1877  (took  eggs  twice,  Feb.  19  and  Mar.  23).  During  the 
whole  time  I  have  known  of  them  they  have  not  built  a  new  nest, 
but  have  either  occupied  the  same  one  for  at  least  three  years,  or 
taken  some  vacant  Hawk's  nest. 

"To  sum  up:  my  experience  with  Great  Horned  Owls  has  been 
that  they  lay  in  old  nests  of.  Red-tailed  Hawks,  in  hollow  trees,  and 
occasionally  in  ledges  of  rocks.  I  never  knew^  them  to  build  a  nest, 
or  to  lay  more  than  two  eggs,  and  I  have  known  of  many  nests  not 
mentioned  above." 

146.  Scops  asio  (Linae)  Bonaparte.         Mottled  Owl ;  Screech  Owl. 

A  common  resident  throughout  the  State.  It  lays  five  eggs,  in  a 
hollow  tree,  about  the  last  of  April.  This  is,  I  think,  the  most 
nocturnal  of  our  Owls.  At  least  it  can  generally  be  approached  in 
broad  daydight  more  easily  than  the  other  species,  and  seems  to  be 
dazzled  by  the  light.  It  sometimes  catches  fish  through  a  hoK'  in 
the  ice,  like  the  Snowy  Owl.* 

147.  OtUS   vulgaris,  var.  WilSOnianuS   (Lesson)   Allen.  Long-eared 
*  Owl. 

A  common  resident.     Its  large  nest  is  comnioidy  placed  on  some 

thick  tree— generally  a  pine— but  sometimes  in  low  bushes.     It  is 

*  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornithol.  Club,  vol.  ii,  No.  3,  p.  80.     July,   1877. 


70  C.  H.  Merriatn — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

said  to  take  possession  of  the  deserted  nests  of  Crows  and  Hawks. 
"Mr.  J.  8.  Brandigee,  of  Berlin,  Conn.,  found  a  nest,  early  in  April, 
in  a  hendock  tree,  situated  in  a  tliiek  dark  evergreen  woods.  The 
nest  was  flat,  made  of  eoai'se  sticks,  and  contained  four  fresh  eggs."* 
Have  taken  it,  in  company  with  the  following  species,  in  clumps  of 
low  bushes  near  the  coast. 

148.  BrachyotUS  palustriS  (Bechst.)  Oonld.         Short-eared  Owl. 

Resident  about  the  salt  marshes  near  the  coast;  also  found  through- 
out the  State.  Nests  on  the  ground.  Not  uncommon.  In  the  year 
1856,  on  the  island  of  Grand  Menan,  "  A  nest  of  this  bird  was  found 
by  Mr.  Cabot  in  the  midst  of  a  dry,  peaty  bog.  It  was  built  on  the 
ground,  in  a  very  slovenly  manner,  of  snndl  sticks  and  a  few  feathers, 
and  presented  hardly  any  excavation."! 

149.  Syrnium  Cinereum  (Gmelin)  Audubon.         Great  Gray  Owl. 

A  rare  straggler  from  the  north.  Linsley  captured  a  specimen  at 
Stratford,  C-onn.,  Jan.  6,  1843. J 

During  the  winter  of  1852  a  large  Great  Gray  Owl  was  killed  near 
Boston,  Mass.,  after  creating  some  little  excitement  among  the  inhab- 
itants :  "A  light  snow  fell  on  Sunday  evening,  March  21st,  and  the 
next  moruing  mysterious  footprints  were  discovered  in  the  vicinity  of 
Nahant  street  and  Long  Beach.  They  were  of  a  shape  that  excited 
much  curiosity,  and  no  one  was  able  to  determine  what  sort  of  a 
creature  had  made  them.  But  on  Monday  evening  Mr.  John  Barry 
shot  a  very  large  gray  oAvl,  on  the  marsh,  near  the  foot  of  Pleasant 
street,  and  it  was  concluded  that  the  wonderful  tracks  were  made  by 
him.     He  measured  more  tlum  live  feet  from  tip  to  tip  of  the  wings. "i^ 

150.  Syrnium  nebulosum  (Forster)  Boio.  Barred  Owl. 

A  common  resident  throughout-  the  State.  Mr.  J.  N.  Clai-k,  of 
Saybrook,  Coim.,  tells  me  that  he  once  lound  it  breeding,  in  a  hollow 
tree,  within  twenty-five  rods  of  the  nest  of  a  pair  of  Great  Horned 
Owls. 


*  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgway,  vol.  iii,  p.  22,  1874. 

•j-  A  List  of  Birds  observed  at  Grand  Menan  and  at  Yarmouth,  N.  S.,  June  16  to 
July  8,  1856.     Proceed.  Boston  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  vi,  p.  115.     March,  1857. 
\  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv.  No.  2,  p.  253.     April,  1843. 
§  History  of  Lynn,  Mass.,  pp.  432-3,  1865. 


C.  II.  Merrhtni — liirds  <>/  ('itninrticiit.  "71 

Dr.  Win.  Wuoil,  ol' Kasl  \\"ui(l>..i-  Hill,  ('..im.,  rclMlcs  the  rnjlnuin.^r 
amusing"  anecdote,  wlueli  serves  well  to  illustrate  'Mlie  nature  ..t  tlic 
beast"  under  certain  conditions,  and  at  the  same  tinu'  atlords  n>  an 
excellent  example  of  conjugal  affection  and  innate  wisdom  in  our 
own  species:  "A  geutleman  who  fancied  liimsclf  a  taxi<Ieiinist  l»e- 
cause,  forsootl),  he  had  seen  a  single  specimen  stuffed,  determined  to 
allow  that  talent  no  longer  to  be  buried,  but  bring  it  to  light  l»v 
practically  demonstrating  to  the  world  in  general,  and  mankind  in 
particular,  the  w\ay  by  which  the  feathered  species  can  forever  look 
'  as  natural  as  life  and  a  little  more  so.'  Having  obtained  a  specimen 
of  the  Barred  Owl  that  was  only  slightly  winged,  he  let  it  loose  in 
the  cellar  till  a  leisure  day.  The  bird,  with  only  tlie  ti])  of  the  wing 
injured,  and  having  free  use  of  its  limbs  and  feet,  could  visit  anv  part 
of  her  prison,  and  finding  herself  sole  mistress,  was  not  long  in 
appropriating  anything  and  everything  that  would  promote  her  own 
comfort  and  ease.  The  potato  and  a]»ple  bins,  as  well  as  the  soai» 
and  pork  barrels  were  indiscriminately  and  alike  used  for  ])laces  of 
rest  and  repose.  The  day  arrived  when  this  nuisance  could  no  hinder 
be  tolerated.  A})proaching,  with  hand  extended,  to  seize  the  Owl 
my  friend  received  the  benefit  of  her  claws  in  and  around  his  fingers. 
Grasping  the  bird's  leg  to  disengage  it  from  its  gript',  tlie  other  claw 
was  instantly  brought  in  I'equisition  ami  seized  the  other  hand. 
Both  hands  l>eing  now  securely  held  by  the  bird,  no  wonder  that  our 
hero  called  out  lustily  for  hel|)  when  he  saw  the  Owl  expanding  her- 
self abnost  indefinitely,  and  snap])ing  her  l)ill  in  anticipation  of  the 
dainty  repast  which,  according  to  a}»pearance,  she  was  about  to  swal- 
low !  The  terrified  scream  alarmed  the  whole  household,  and  the 
rush  down  the  cellar  stairs  reminds  one  very  forcibly  of  the  second 
and  fourth  illustrations  in  Bachelor  Butterfly,  on  page  I4t]i,  where  he 
jumped  overboard,  and,  in  older  to  save  the  life  of  the  Naturalist, 
was  followed  by  his  omnipresent  Dorothy  and  the  whole  crew.  Mis 
better  half  becoming  alarmed  for  the  safety  of  her  beloved,  seized  tlie 
enraged  bird  by  the  head  and  pulled  with  all  the  force  that  conjugal 
fidelity  or  nervous  excitement  could  arouse.  The  more  she  j)ulled 
the  deeper  were  the  talons  of  the  Owl  inserted,  as  was  evidenced  by 
the  musical  entertainment  given  by  our  frieml,  wliicli  comprised  a 
scale  of  at  least  tw'o  octaves,  with  trills  and  variations  that  would 
have  astonished  an  Italian  prima  donna  !  What  more  could  l)c 
done  ?  The  adage  that  '  necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention'  proved 
true  in  this  case,  for  the  imminent  danger,  to  say  nothing  of  the  ex- 
cruciating pain,  roused  our  hero  to  the  importance  of  trying  wliat 


72  (J.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

virtue  there  was  in  his  incisors.  Being  blest  with  a  good  set  he  with 
much  difficulty  succeeded  in  biting  off"  all  the  claws  of  the  Owl,  and 
relieving  himself  from  his  perilous  position,  probably  a  wiser  man  for 
his  first  lesson  in  Ornithology."* 

Surely  Thomas  Morton,  Esq.,  could  not  have  been  familiar  with 
the  love  calls  of  this  species,  or  he  would  never  have  written:  "There 
are  Owles  of  divers  kindes  :  but  I  did  never  heare  any  of  them  whop 
as  ours  doe."f 

151.  Nyctea  Scandiaca  (Linue)  Newton.         Snowy  Owl. 

This  magnificent  bird  seems  to  be  a  pretty  regidar  winter  visitant 
along  our  coast.  Linsley  had  secured  five  specimens  from  Stratford, 
Conn.,  and  Dr.  Whelpley  had  observed  it  at  New  Haven,  pi-ior  to 
the  year  1843. J  Two  specimens  came  to  my  notice  during  the  win- 
ter of  1875-6  (the  first  on  Nov.  10),  and  no  less  than  a  dozen  speci- 
mens were  killed  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  New  Haven  in  October 
(Oct.  17,  Osborne),  and  November  last  (1876).  They  unquestionably 
belonged  to  the  immense  flock  of  these  Owls  that  passed  through 
eastern  Massachusetts  about  the  same  time.  Over  ttoo  hundred 
specimens  were  shot  about  Boston  in  October  and  November.  For  a 
detailed  account  of  this  Avonderful  and  really  ])erple.\ing  migration, 
consult  an  article  by  Kuthven  Deane,  Esq.,  in  the  Bulletin  of  the 
Nuttall  Ornithological  Club,  No.  1,  vol.  ii,  p.  9,  for  January,  1877. 
Dr.  Wm.  Wood,  of  East  Windsor  Hill,  Conn.,  writes  that  they  were 
unusually  abundant  here  during  the  winter  of  1858-9,  when  fifteen 
or  twenty  were  shot  in  Hartford  County.  He  further  observes  tliat 
"it  hunts  either  by  day,  or  in  the  twilight,  occasionally  pursuing 
game  on  the  wing  and  securing  it  after  the  manner  of  the  true  falcons, 
but  generally  devouring  it  on  the  spot  like  the  IVIarsh  Hawk.  When 
annoyed  and  teased  by  Crows  it  will  now  and  then  seek  shelter  in  a 
hollow  tree.  Some  years  since  I  w\as  pursuing  one  of  these  birds,  in 
our  meadows,  that  was  followed  and  tormented  by  a  great  number  of 
Crows.  It  finally  alighted  on  an  apple  tree  about  a  hundred  rods 
distant,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  whole  tree  was  black  with  his 
tormenters,  and  still  they  came  from  all  directions,  attracted  by  the 
noise  and  confusion  of  those  diving  at  the  Owl.     Soon  they  began  to 

*  Ifartford  Times,  chap,  xx,  .Vupjiist  17,  1801. 

f  New  Kiiirlisli  Oiinnaii,  p.  4!>.  (Reprinted  in  Force'8  llistDiical  Trax-ts,  Tract  5, 
vol.  ii.) 

\  Am.  .Tour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  No.  2,  vol.  xliv,  p.  25:5,  184.'!. 


C.   If.   Mtri'iiiin — liinl.^  iif  < '(niii(<-llriil.  Y;^ 

leave,  :\ih1  betorc  my  arrival  all  w  as  (|iii(t.  Tliis  was  a  iiivstt-rv  to 
me,  for  I  \vm\  not  seen  tlic  Owl  Hy,  aii.l  if  lie  li.id,  \\\v  cnnvs  wniil.l 
certainly  have  given  the  alarm  an<l  followed  him,  yet  iio  <  h\  I  \\;is  in 
sight.  Having  passed  the  tn'e  some  fifteen  or  twcnlv  roil-  |  Ik md  :i 
noise,  and  turning  about  saw  the  Owl  eoming  out  of  ;i  hollow  m|.|.1(- 
tree  stump  close  by  the  tree.  This  was  rather  proxokin-,  tm  I  \v.\A 
been,  just  a  moment  before,  near  enough  to  the  stum|.  to  li,i\c 
touched  it  with  my  gun.""* 

About  the  middle  of  March,  1868,  "lour  lai-ge  Arctic  Owls  ucic 
shot  during  one  week,  at  Nahaut,  and  on  the  beaches"  about   i'>.ist(Mi.t 

152.  Surnia  Ulula,  var.   HudSOnia  (Gmelin)  Coucs.         ilawk  Owf 

A  rare  winter  visitor  from  the  North.  To  Di-.  F.  W.  Hall  belongs 
the  honor  of  ad<ling  this  species  to  the  birds  of  our  8tate.  In  Nov. 
1869,  he  saw  the  bird  in  an  elm  tree  in  an  open  field.  Not  having  a 
gun  with  him  he  returned  for  it  and  secured  a  fine  specinu-n  of  the 
Hawk  Owl.  It  was  mounted  by  the  Rev.  C  M.  Jones,  and  is  now  in 
the  cabinet  of  Dr.  Hall.  In  the  vicinity  of  Hudson's  l>ay,  during  the 
winter  season,  the  white  Ptannigan  (Lagopiis  alht/t^)  <-onstitutes  its 
chief  article  of  diet;  and  it  is  said  to  follow  the  hunter,  pouncing 
upon  his  game  before  he  has  time  to  reach  it.  As  early  as  is;i;{  the 
Hawk  Owl  was  recorded,  by  Ebenezer  Emmons,  M.D.,  as  a  lare 
"  autumn"  visitant  in  Massachusetts.^  It  has  been  shot  as  far  South 
as  Haddington,  near  Philadelphia.§ 

153.  Nyctale  Tengmalmi,  var.   Richardsoni  (Bonaparte)  Ridgwaj. 

Richardson  Owl. 
An  extremely  rare  accidental  winter  visitor  from  the  North.  Dr. 
Wm.  Wood  has  a  fine  specimen  of  this  boreal  Owl  in  his  cabinet.  It 
was  captured  some  twenty  years  ago,  in  mid-winter,  lu-ar  Kast 
Windsor,  Conn.  The  doctor  gives  the  following  account  of  the 
manner  in  which  he  came  in  ])ossession  of  this  specimen,  in  one  of  his 
interesting  articles  published  in  the  "Hartford  Times,"  Aug.  24th, 
1861:  "Visiting  a  patient  some  three   miles  from  my  oitice,  I  was 


*  Hartford  Times,  cliap.  xvi,  July  6,  1861. 

f  History  of  Lynn,  Mass.,  by  Alonzo  Lewis  and  .Tames  R.  Newliall,  i).  47.3,  1805. 

J  Report  on  the  Geology,  Mineralogy,  Botany,  and  Zoology  of  Massaehnsctts.  By 
Edward  Hitchcock,  Amherst.      p.  MC.     183.S. 

§  Birds  of  East  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey.  By  William  V.  Tiinil.iill,  M.D..  i>. 
41.     1869. 

Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Vol.  IV.  10  Jit-y,  18V7. 


74  (J.  H.  Merriani — Birds  of  Connectictit. 

iiiforraed  tlint  word  had  been  left  for  me  to  call  at  a  house  near  by. 
On  driving  over  and  meeting  the  occn])ant  at  the  gate,  I  inquired 
who  was  sick  ?  After  giving  me  an  evasive  answer  I  was  invited 
into  the  house.  Being  well  acquainted  with  the  gentleman,  and 
knowing  that  he  had  quite  a  taste  for  natural  liistory,  I  began  to 
suspect  that  it  was  not  professional  advice  that  was  wanting.  Leav- 
ing the  room  for  a  few  minutes,  he  returned  with  an  Owl.  This  bird, 
he  informed  me,  sat  u|ton  the  verandah  early  the  previous  morning, 
and  approaching  cautiously,  he  ca]>tured  it  without  its  making  the 
least  resistance  or  effort  to  escape,  and  put  it  into  a  cage.  The  next 
morning,  from  some  unknown  cause,  the  bird  was  found  dead,  and 
'  thinking  it  might  l»e  something  a  little  different  from  any  in  my 
collection,'  he  saved  it  for  me.  No  one  but  a  naturalist  can  imagine 
the  satisfaction  it  afforded  me  Avhen  I  beheld  Richardson's  Owl ;  and 
I  assure  yoiT  that  I  would  not  only  have  gone  three  miles,  but  ten 
times  three  to  obtain  it."  Several  specimens  have  been  taken  in 
Massachusetts.* 

154.  Nyctale  Acadica  (rrmclin)  Bonaparte.      Acadian  Owl;  Saw-whet  Owl. 

Resident,  though  rather  rare,  or  at  least  not  often  seen,  for,  owing 
to  its  diminutive  size  and  nocturnal  habits,  it  might  be  quite  common 
and  yet  escape  notice.  Linsley  never  saw  "  Imt  two  individuals,"  one 
of  which  "  was  found  lying  upon  his  back  in  a  barn-yard  in  a  cold 
morning  in  INiarch,  1841,  though  still  living."  A  specimen  Avas  taken 
at  East  Haven,  Conn.,  Nov.  26th,  1874,  by  Dr.  F.  W.  Hall. 

Mr.  Coe  and  Mr.  Sage  have  each  fine  exani])les  of  this  species  in 
their  cabinets,  and  the  former  gentleman  showed  me  a  set  of  five  eggs 
found  in  a  hole  in  a  tree  near  Portland,  Conn.  Dr.  Wood,  of  East 
Windsor  Hill,  has  several  S])ecimens  taken  in  that  vicinity,  and  I  have 
lately  seen  quite  a  number,  killed  about  New  Haven,  and  throughout 
the  State.  It  feeds  on  small  birds,  mice,  grasshoppers,  beetles,  etc. 
"  P^or  rearing  its  young  the  Saw-whet  takes  possession  of  the  old  nest 
of  a  crow,  or  some  otlier  large  bird,  or  of  a  hollow  cavity  of  an  old 
tree."f 

*  J.  A.  Allen's  Notes  on  some  of  the  Rarer  Birds  of  Mass.,  pp.  47-8.     1869. 
f  Zadock  Tlioni))soii's  liistory  of  Veriiinnt,  ])p.  (!r>-7.      1842. 


C.  H.  Merrlam — Jiinls  of  <  '<nii,,rtii-ut.  75 


Family,  FALCONID^. 
155.  Circus  cyaneus,  var.  Hudsonius  (Liniu')  Siiii.       Mai>ii  iiawk; 

Harrier;  'Mouse  Hawk." 

A  tolerably  ooiiimoii  sumincr  resident,  esin-cially  about  salt  iiiarslics, 
where  it  breeds,  plaeing  its  nest  011  tlie  ground.  Arrives  in  .March 
or  April  (April  9,  1876,  Osborne),  remaining  into  No\  eniln  r  (Nov.  (P. 

I  take  the  foHowing  interesting  account  of  tlie  audacity  sometimes 
displayed  by  this  bird,  from  one  of  T)i-.  Wood's  artich's  in  the  Hart- 
ford Times:  "If  once  introduced  to  your  young  poultry  a  faithful 
supervision  Avill  be  exercised  over  them  to  see  that  none  are  left  to 
suffer  from  want  of  attention  or  hunger.  I  know  of  an  instance 
where  the  ohl  bird  returned  daily,  and  about  the  same  hour,  until  all 
were  taken.  Coming  one  day  when  the  owner  was  there,  the  Hawk 
evidently  intended  to  convince  him  that  he  Avas  sole  projirietor  of 
that  brood.  The  chiekens  having  tied  into  the  coop,  he  made  him- 
self quite  at  home  by  alighting  on  the  shed  near  by  and  waiting  for 
them  to  appear.  The  farmer  caught  up  a  stick  and  threw  it  at  him, 
which  so  enraged  the  bird  that  it  flew  about  his  head,  diving  at  him 
and  squealing  at  a  most  furious  rate,  Avhen  he  returned  again  to  tlie 
shed,  scolding  vehemently.  The  farmer  remarked  that  '  he  was  the 
sauciest  little  thing  he  ever  saw.'  In  capturing  mice  partly  con- 
cealed they  sometiTiies  '  wake  up  the  wrong  j)assenger'  and  get  caj)- 
tured.  An  instance  of  this  occurred  in  East  Hartford.  \  Mouse 
Hawk  was  observed  sailing  over  some  tall  grass,  evidently  intent  on 
game.  Poising  himself  for  a  moment  by  the  slow,  easy  flappings  of 
his  wings,  he  suddenly  dove,  and  soon  appeared,  ascending  slowly 
and  with  difliculty.  The  very  singular  movements  of  the  Hawk 
attracted  the  notice  of  several  persons  Avho  were  talking  together,  and 
they  watched  every  motion  with  intei'cst.  He  gradually  rose  higher 
and  higher,  till  his  strength  began  to  fail,  when  he  began  to  descend 
obliquely  for  a  little  way,  then  headlong  to  the  groinid.  On  arriving 
at  the  place  they  found  that  the  Hawk  had  seized  a  weasel,  that  had 
killed  its  assailant  by  eating  into  the  sides  of  the  bird,  where  he  was 
still  at  work  !" 

"Some  years  since,  a  student  in  the  seminary  came  runnitig  up  to 
me  in  a  great  hurry,  almost  out  of  breath,  puffing  like  a  locomotiv  e, 
and  exclaiming,  '  Doc  —  doc — doctor, — can — you — shoot —  flying  T 
I  replied  that  sometimes  I  did  such  things.  "  Well,  I  wish  you 
would  so  out  East  and  shoot  a  Hawk  that  has  chased  me  for  half  a 


76  C.  H.  Merriaiu — Birds  of  Connecticnt. 

mile,  (living-  so  close  to  my  head  that  I  expected  every  moment  he 
would  have  liohl  of  me.*  Taking  my  gun,  we  walked  towards  the 
swamp,  when  he  informed  me  that  '  he  came  out  there  to  practice 
elocution,  so  as  not  to  disturb  any  one,  and  before  he  liad  finished 
tlie  vowel  sounds  the  Hawk  came  at  him.'  On  arriving  near  the 
place  I  requested  him  to  commence  his  vocal  exercises  again,  so  as 
t3  atibrd  me  an  opportunity  for  practicing  on  the  wing.  He  com- 
menced, and,  if  that  was  a  specimen  of  elocution,  no  wonder  the 
Hawk  drove  him  from  the  premises,  for  of  all  the  earthly  or  unearthly 
sounds  ever  uttered,  those  exceeded  anything  I  ever  heard,  Tf  l)lind- 
fold,  one  wonld  have  supposed  that  there  was  a  concert  of  Great 
Horned  Owls  of  all  ages,  echoing  through  the  forest  '  waugh  ho  ! 

oo,  e,  ah, 

'  Making  night  hideous,' 

almost  tempting  one  to  think,  if  not  to  utter,  the  penult  of  the  word 
named.  The  bird  without  doubt  recognized  the  vowel  sounds,  for 
she  soon  came  around,  but  either  not  liking  the  looks  of  me  or  my 
gun,  kept  at  a  respectful  distance,  flying  about,  uttering  the  peculiar 
cry  of  the  Marsh  Hawk  Neither  the  attempts  of  Audubon  or  Nutt- 
all  to  interi)ret  their  song  has  elucidated  it  according  to  my  ear.  It 
appears  to  me  to  sound  like  the  male  falsetto  descending  quickly 
from  high  F  to  D,  key  of  two  sharps,  with  the  syllables  hey,  ha,  ha, 
in  compound  time,  accenting  the  flrst  note  very  forcibly.  The  next 
day  we  went  again  to  the  swamp,  but  taking  the  precaution  to  con- 
ceal myself  in  the  bushes  before  he  commenced  his  elocutionary  ex- 
ercises, the  bird  dove  at  him  as  before,  when  he  sung  out  lustily, 
'  shoot !  shoot  !  shoot !'  Discovering  me  the  hawk  changed  her 
tactics,  much  to  the  relief  of  my  friend,  and,  poishig  herself  for  a 
moment,  dove  with  so  much  force  at  my  head  as  to  make  a  distinct 
rustling  sound.  After  allowing  her  to  repeat  tliis  several  times  to 
see  if  she  would  really  take  hold  of  my  craniiim,  my  old  gun  went 
off,  carrying  death  in  its  track,  much  to  the  joy  of  my  companion, 
who  now,  for  the  first  time,  ventured  to  take  a  full  breath  since  com- 
ing into  the  swamp."* 

156.   NaucleruS  forficatUS  (Lhhk-)  Ridgway.         Swallow-tailed  Kite. 

A  rare  straggler  from  the  South,  at  present.  Mr.  Josiali  (i.  Ely, 
of  Lyme,  New  London  County,  Conn.,  writes  me  that  while  hunting 
on  the  2d  of  July  (1877),  one  of  these  magnificent  birds  flew  over  his 

*  Hartford  Times,  chap.  xv.  June  29,  1861. 


G.  IT.  Merriam — HinlK  «;/"  (\>nin'<(lcitt.  77 

Ik'iuI,  aiul  tliiit  "tln'iv  is  no  doubt  :is  to  its  i.liiilit  y/'  Mi.  \\'.  \\  . 
Coe,  of  Porthiiul,  Conn.,  tells  nu'  that  ho  saw  a  Swallow-tailcl  Kite  in 
that  vicinity,  durinii;  tlu'  suninK-r  of  18(51.  He  was  crossing  an  oii.  n 
meadow  wlien  the  Kite  smldenly  dove,  close  to  where  lie  was  stand- 
ing, and  arose  witii  a  snake  in  its  talons.  This  it  devoured  while  in 
the  air,  much  to  the  surprise  of  Mr.  Coe,  who  was  not  then  familiar 
with  its  habits.  A  specimen  has  also  been  observed  in  iMassachuset Is 
quite  recently.*  It  has  been  shot  on  Long  Island  ((iiraiid).  'i'iie 
cause  of  its  restricted  northern  range,  in  the  eastern  province,  at  the 
present  time,  can  scarcely  depend  on  the  temperature  (as  generally 
supposed),  for  it  was  once  not  only  common  in  New  England,  but 
actually  wintered  here,  Williams,  writing  in  1794,  says  that  they 
were  then  found  in  Vermont,  and  "seem  to  be  fitted  by  nature,  to 
endure  all  the  diversity  of  our  climate,  and  are  to  be  seen  in  the 
coldest  weather  of  our  winters."f  The  power  of  wing  exiiibited  by 
this  splendid  species  is  truly  wonderful.  Its  swift  flight  and  abrupt 
turnings  can  only  be  compared  to  those  of  the  Swallow.  I  have 
often  seen  them,  in  P'lorida,  dart  down  and  pick  a  wasp's  nest  from 
the  under  side  of  a  palmetto  leaf,  devouring  the  grubs  it  contained 
while  on  the  wing.J  Dr.  Coues  writes  thus  of  it:  "The  Swallow- 
tailed  Kite  is  a  marked  feature  of  the  scene  in  the  Southern  States, 
alike  where  the  sunbeams  are  redolent  of  the  orange  and  magnolia, 
and  where  the  air  reeks  with  the  pestilent  miasm  of  the  moss- 
shrouded  swamps  that  sleep  in  perpetual  gloom.  But,  imbued  with  a 
spirit  of  adventure,  possessed  of  unequaled  powers  of  flight,  it  often 
wanders  far  from  its  southern  home  ;  it  has  more  than  once  crossed 
the  ocean,  and  become  a  trophy  of  no  ordinary  interest  to  the  ardent 
collector  in  Europe."  It  extends  northward  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley,  "wdiere  it  regularly  occurs  above  the  mouth  of  the  ^Missouri." 
"Marked  among  its  kind  by  no  ordinary  beauty  of  form  and  bril- 
liancy of  color,  the  Kite  courses  through  the  air  with  a  grace  and 
buoyancy  it  would  be  vain  to  rival.  By  a  stroke  of  the  thin-bladi'tl 
wings  and  a  lashing  of  the  cleft  tail,  its  flight  is  swayed  t<i  tliis  or 
that  side  in  a  moment,  or  instantly  arrested.  Now  it  swoc)ps  with 
incredible  swiftness,  seizes  without  a  pause,  and  bears  its  struggling 
captive  aloft,  feeding  from  its  talons  as  it  flies;  now  it  mounts  in 
airy  circles  till  it  is  a  speck  in  the  blue  ether  and  disappears. "§ 

*  Rarer  Birds  of  Mass.,  J.  A.  Allen,  p.  46,  18(59. 

f  The  Natural  and  Civil  History  of  Vermont,  by  Samuel  Williams,  p.  J 12,  July  KJ, 
1794. 

X  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  viii.  No.  2.  p.  88,  Feb.,  1874. 
§  Coues'  Birds  of  the  Northwest,  p.  332,  1874. 


78  C.  If.  Merriani — Birds  of  (Jomtecticut. 

157.  Accipiter  fllSCUS  (Gmeliu)  Bouaparte.         Sharp-shinned  Hawk. 

A  common  summei"  resident,  breeding-  on  trees  and  on  higli  rocky- 
cliffs  thronghout  the  State.  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  writes  nie,  that,  of  all 
our  Hawks,  they  are  the  latest  to  breed,  laying  their  eggs,  generally 
live  ill  number,  in  June.  He  has  found  tliem  "in  an  old  grey  squir- 
rel's nest  fixed  up  for  the  occasion."  Arrives  in  March,  remaining 
into  November.  F.  W.  Putnam,  in  1S56,  gave  it  as  "  resident,"  but 
"  not  abundant,"  in  Essex  County,  Mass.  I  have  no  authentic 
record  of  its  occurrence  here  in  winter.  Dr.  Wood  writes :  "  Its 
flight  is  quick,  irregular,  and  so  rapid,  that,  if  your  gun  is  not  cocked 
it  will  pass  out  of  range  before  you  can  get  aim.  It  pounces  upou 
its  prey  with  such  velocity  that  no  time  is  allowed  for  escape. 
While  riding  one  day,  one  passed  within  a  few  feet  of  me  and  dashed 
into  a  cluster  of  alders,  interwoven  with  grapevines  and  briars,  and 
seized  a  half-grown  quail,  passing  out  with  it,  without  scarcely  check- 
ing its  speed.  Although  the  hedge  was  within  twenty  feet  of  me,  it 
was  so  thick  tliat  I  could  not  discern  tlie  bird  until  it  a])peared  on  the 
opposite  side  in  the  talons  of  the  Hawk.  When  hungry  and  in 
search  of  game,  it  knows  no  fear,  often  diving  within  a  few  feet  of 
\o\\  and  seizing  a  chicken.  Sometimes  you  will  see  one  flying  along- 
very  swift  and  low,  wheeling  right  and  left,  taking  a  '  bird's-eye  view' 
of  every  hedge  and  bush,  until  it  starts  some  little  bird,  wliose  fate  is 
surely  sealed."*  Nuttall  writes:  "  Descending  furiously  and  blindly 
upon  its  quarry,  a  young  Hawk  of  this  species  broke  through  the  glass 
of  the  green-house,  at  the  Cambridge  Botanic  Garden  ;  and  fearlessly 
passing  through  a  second  glass  partition,  he  was  only  brought  \\\^  by 
the  third,  and  caught,  though  little  stunned  by  the  effort. "f 

158.  Accipiter  Cooperi  (Bonaparte)    (iray.  ('ooper's    Hawk;     Chicken 

Hawk. 

A  common  summer  resident,  geneially  ])lacing  its  nest  in  some  tall 
i)ine  or  oilier  high  tree.  "Their  four  eggs  are  usually  ileposited 
about  the  middle  of  May.  They  l're((uently  build  a  new  nest  every 
vear  but  often  take  possession  of  the  old  nest  of  a  Ived-tailed  or  IJed- 
shouldered  Hawk. "J  Arrives  in  ]\Iai"ch,  remaining  into  Novembei'. 
Dr.  Wood  writes  that  he  knew  of  six  of  their  nests  in  the  vicinity  of 
East   Windsor  Hill,  Conn.,  in   a  single  season,  and  that  he  obtained 


*  Hartford  Times,  chap,  x,  May  25th,  1861. 

■)•  Nuttall's  Manual  of  Ornithology,  vol.  i,  p.  88.     1832. 

X  MS.  notes  of  W.  W.  Coe. 


C.  H.  Merritnn — B/n/.t  nj'  ('omnrficiit.  70 

eggs  from  five  oftlicin.  He  says,  ''  It  is  l.nM  :ii,,l  Icnrlcvs,  yA\vn  .liv- 
ing witliin  a  few  rods  ol'tlic  fai-iiuT  and  st-izino-  liis  cliickciis.  It. .nee 
iiitrodiu-ed  to  tlie  young  poidtry,  you  may  rest  assured  <.f  a  daily  call 
till  all  are  gone,  unless  you  are  fortunate  enough  t<>  secuic  the  intru- 
der. I  onee  saw  one  of  tliese  Hawks  seize  a  chickt  ii  .m  a  \cry  stcti) 
side-liill,  elose  beside  the  old  hen.  In  an  instant  the  enraged  mother 
flew  upon  the  thief,  and  hoth  came  tumbling  down  the  hill,  cHucIkmI 
together;  running  up,  I  was  just  about  to  grasp  the  Hawk  when  tli(\- 
]iarted.  It  sometimes  attacks  full  grown  poultry  with  success.  A 
gentleman  once  informed  me  that,  '  while  standing  l)y  his  wood-pile, 
close  by  the  house,  one  of  these  birds  do^e  upon  a  full  grown  rooster, 
within  six  or  eight  rods  of  him.  The  fowl  ran  some  two  oi-  three 
rods  and  dropped  dead.  The  Hawk  soon  returned  to  de\ our  his 
game,  as  it  was  too  heavy  for  him  to  carry  away,  but  his  audacity 
cost  him  his  life.'  "* 

In  the  old  colonial  days,  when  every  man  spelled  as  best  suited  his 
own  fancy,  the  different  kinds  of  Hawks  did  not  pass  unnoticed,  for  in 
1632  Morton  wrote  :  "  There  are  Hawkes  in  New  England  of  5.  sorts, 
and  these  of  all  other  fether  fowles  I  must  not  omitt,  to  speake  of, 
nor  neede  I  to  make  any  Apology  for  my  selfe,  concerning  anv  tres- 
pass, that  I  am  like  to  make  upon  my  judgment,  concerning  the 
nature  of  them,  having  bin  bred  in  so  genious  a  way,  that  T  had  the 
common  use  of  them  in  P]ngland  :  and  at  my  first  arrivall  in  those 
parts  practiced  to  take  a  Lamiaret,  which  I  reclaimed,  trained,  and 
made  flying  in  a  fortnight,  the  same  being  a  ))assinger  at  jMichuelmas. 
I  found  that  these  are  most  excellent  Mettell,  rank  winged,  well  con- 
ditioned, and  not  tickleish  footed,  and  having  whoods,  bels,  luers, 
and  all  things  fitting,  was  desirous  to  make  exjx'riment  of  that  kinde 
of  Hawke,  before  any  other.  And  T  am  ]K'rswaded  :  that  nature  hath 
ordained  them  to  be  of  a  farre  better  kinde,  then  any  that  lia\c  Itin 
used  in  England. "f  It  seems  to  me  that  there  is  little  (bmbt  but  that 
the  above  remarks  refer  to  Cooper's  Hawk. 

159.  Astur  atricapillns  (Wilson)  Jardine.         floshawk. 

Rather  rare,  and  somewhat  irregular,  winter  visitant.  Said  to 
breed,  occasionally,  as  far  south  as  Massachusetts  (Maynnrd  and 
Minot). 

*  Hartford  Times,  chap,  ix,  May  18th,  1861. 

+  New  English  Canaan.  By  Thomas  Morton,  p.  49.  Hi:!2.  |  Reprinted  in  Force's 
Hist.  Tracts,  vol.  ii,  T.  ,5.] 


80  C  If.  Merriain  —  liirds  of  Con)iecticut. 

Professor  Wm.  1).  Whitney  has  a  finely  mounted  specimen,  in  his 
cabinet,  wliicli  was  shot,  some  years  ago,  at  Ilamden  Phiins,  near 
New  Haven,  Conn.  W.  W.  Coe,  and  Jno,  II.  Sage,  of  P<trtland, 
Conn.,  have  each  several  tine  specimens  taken  in  the  State — one  near 
Hartford,  Nov.  9th,  1867.  Mr.  Geo.  Bird  Grinnell  secured  one,  late 
in  the  fall  (Nov.  or  Dec.)  of  1876,  at  Milford,  Conn.  For  several 
days  previous  to  its  capture  it  had  been  in  the  habit  of  lunching  on  a 
neiglibor's  chickens.  Mr.  Erwin  I.  Shores  writes  me  that,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Suffield,  Conn.,  he  has  seen  it  "  four  or  more  times  during 
the  last  two  winters."  I  am  informed  by  Dr.  Wm.  Wood,  of  East 
Windsor  Hill,  Conn.,  that  they  are  really  common  in  that  vicinity 
about  once  in  ten  years  (he  once  had  seven  specimens,  in  the  liesh, 
on  hand  at  one  time)  but  are  seldom  seen  between  times.  The  doctor 
relates  the  following  anecdote  as  illustrating  well  the  boldness  and 
daring  often  displayed  by  this  species:  An  old  man,  over  eighty  years 
of  age,  was  sitting  quietly  in  the  kitchen  with  his  maiden  daughter. 
The  door  was  open  and  their  quiet  was  sudtlenly  l)roken  by  a  hen 
who  rushed  frantically  into  the  room,  followed  closely  by  a  large 
(Toshawk.  There,  right  on  the  kitchen  tioor,  and  in  the  presence  of 
the  two,  the  bold  Hawk  seized  the  hen.  The  feeble  old  man  came 
to  the  rescue,  and,  with  stick  in  hand,  finally  succeeded  in  beating  off 
the  intruder,  who  now  made  for  the  door.  But  it  was  too  late— the 
daughter  had  closed  the  door  .and  actually  caught  the  furious  l)ird  in 
her  hands  and  put  him  to  death  ! 

Zadock  Thoni])son  says :  "  Its  disposition  is  very  savage,  and  it  is 
withal  so  much  of  a  cannibal  as  sometimes  to  devour  its  own  young  !"* 
Dr.  Wm.  Wood,  of  East  Windsor  Hill,  writes  that  a  specimen  which 
he  once  kept  alive  in  a  small  i-oom  "refused  food  until  the  thirteenth 

day,  when  it  devoured  an  entire  hen It  died  the  next 

night,  a  victim  to  its  voraciousness."!  "  Tiie  }>oet  Chaucer  in  allud- 
ing to  it  says, — 

'  Riding  on  hawking  by  the  river, 
With  gray  Gosliawk  in  hand.' 

Falconry  and  hawking,  as  defined  by  our  lexicograjihers,  are  synony- 
mous, but  formerly  birds  of  sport  were  divided  into  two  classes,  those 
of  falconry,  and  those  of  hawking.  This  bird  came  under  the  latter 
class."  " The  Goshawk  does  iu>t  usually  soar  high,  like  the  longer 
winged  Hawks,  nor  dart  upon  its  prey  by  a  (lircct  descent,  as  do  the 


♦History  of  Vermont,  p.  C>2.     1842. 

f  Ihirtford  Ti)nos,  v\vA\y  ix,  May  18th,  ISfil. 


(J.  jr.  Merrluni — Jiinls  of  Coimevticut.  81 

true  Falcons,  but  by  ii  side  glanre.  It  is  restless,  seldom  alii-l, tiller 
but  for  a  moment,  oxeept  to  devour  its  (luarry,  and  tlien  it  stands 
almost   erect.     Its  Higlit   is  so   rapid    tliat  it  can  easily  overtake  tlie 

swift  Pigeon  on  the  wing When  looking  for  prey  it  skims 

along  near  tlu'  surface  of  the  ground  with  great  velocity,  and  catches 
its  game  so  quickly  and  easily  as  scarcely  to  be  seen  by  the  looker-on." 
"  The  Goshawk  is  the  mt)st  daring  and  venturesome  of  any  of  our 
diurnal  birds  of  prey.  A  farmer  who  resides  a  few  miles  from  my 
office,  wishing  to  perpetuate  the  old  New  England  custom  (.f  having 
a  chickeu-pie  for  Thanksgiving  dinner,  caught  some  fowls,  took  tlitiu 
to  a  log,  severed  the  neck  of  one,  and  threw  it  down  beside  him. 
In  an  instant  a  Goshawk  seized  the  struggling  fowl,  and,  flying  ott" 
some  ten  rods,  alighted  and  commenced  devouring  its  prey.  The 
boldness  of  the  attack  so  astonished  the  farmer  that  he  looked  on 
with  blank  amazement.  Recovering  from  his  surprise,  he  hastened 
into  the  house  and  brought  out  his  gun,  which  secured  him  both  the 
Haw^k  and  the  fowl,"* 

Pennant,  in  1785,  tells  us  that  Goshawks  "are  used  by  the 
Etnperor  of  China  in  his  sporting  progresses,  attended  by  his  grand 
falconer,  and  a  thousand  of  the  subordinate.  .  ;  .  ,  .  The  Emperor 
often  carries  a  Hawk  on  his  hand,  to  let  fly  at  any  game  whicli  jne- 
sents  itself;  which  are  usually  Pheasants,  Partridges,  Quails,  or 
Cranes.     Marco  Polo  saw  this  diversion  about  the  year  r209,"f 

1 60.  Falco  communis  Gmelin.         Peregrine  Falcon ;  Duck  Hawk. 

Resident,  but  rare;  breeds  on  Talcott  Mountain,  near  Hartford, 
Conn.  Linsley  tells  us  that,  previous  to  the  year  1842,  a  specimen  of 
this  celebrated  and  powerful  bird  was  wounded  by  a  gunshot  in 
Stratford,  [Conn.],  and  after  he  was  taken  soon  recovered,  and  was  kept 
on  poultry  until  he  became  too  expensive  to  the  owner,";];  who  then 
released  him.  Mr.  Geo.  Bird  Grinnell  informs  me  that  he  saw,  on  the 
23d  of  February,  1870,  a  Duck  Hawk  (or  Great-footed  Hawk,  as  it  is 
often  called),  flying  about  the  Sound,  near  Milford,  Conn. 

On  the  29th  of  June,  1877,  while  enjoying  the  hospitality  of  Cajit. 
O.  N.  Brooks,  at  Faulkner's  Island,  Conn.,  in  company  with  my 
friend,  Mr.  .Tno.  H.  Sage,  the  Terns  breeding  on  Goose  Island  (one  mile 


*  Dr.  Wood,  in  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  x.  No.  3,  pp.  132-4.     March,  1876. 
f  Arctic  Zoology.     By  Thomas  Pennant,  vol.  ii,  p.  204.     1785. 
X  Liusley's  Catal.  Birds  Conn.,  p.  250,  1843. 
Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Yol.  IV.  11  Jl'I'Y,  1877. 


82  G.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

distant)  were  observed  to  be  in  an  unusual  state  of  commotion.  The 
Captain  remarked  that  they  had  been  agitated,  the  day  previous,  by 
a  Duck  Hawk  which  might  still  be  prowling  in  the  vicinity,  and  he 
kindly  oflered  to  take  us  over  there.  We  landed,  and,  on  rounding 
the  island,  the  Falcon  suddenly  started  from  her  retreat  among  the 
rocks  and  weeds,  which,  as  we  afterwards  discovered,  was  strewn 
with  feathers.  But  the  captain's  gun  was  in  readiness,  and,  through 
his  kindness,  the  bird  now  graces  my  collection.  During  her  brief 
visit  she  had  made  sad  havoc  among  the  Terns,  and  her  crop  was 
greatly  distended  with  their  remains,  Avhich  had  been  swallowed  in 
incredibly  large  pieces — whole  legs,  and  the  long  bones  of  the  wings 
were  found  entire  and  unbroken  !  Indeed  she  was  perfectly  gorged, 
and  contained  the  remains  of  at  least  two  adult  Terns,  besides  a  mass 
of  newly  hatched  young  !  The  only  other  great-footed  Hawk  that 
Capt.  Brooks  has  ever  taken,  he  killed,  at  this  same  place,  twelve 
years  ago.  Query :  did  this  bird  come  from  Talcott  Mountain,  or 
did  it  breed  far  beyond  our  limits  ?  It  is  said  that  they  are  able  to 
fly  many  hours  without  resting,  and  at  the  enormous  rate  of  an  hun- 
dred miles  per  hour  !*     They  sometimes  live  nearly  200  years  ! 

In  the  Hartford  Times  of  June  29th,  1861,  Dr.  Wm.  Wood,  of 
East  Windsor  Hill,  Conn,,  published  the  first  account  of  tlie  first 
Duck  Hawk's  nest  found  in  New  England,  It  was  discovered  by 
Dr.  Moses,  on  Talcott  Mountain,  near  Hartford,  Conn.,  May  25th, 
1861,  and  contained  four  young  ahnost  large  enough  to  fly.  The 
finding  of  this  nest  was,  at  the  time,  of  particular  interest,  since,  as 
Dr.  Wood  remarked,  "  it  settled  beyond  dispute  three  points :  1st, 
that  they  breed  on  clifi*s ;  2d,  that  they  breed  in  Connecticut ;  and 
3d,  that  they  nest  very  early"  (sometime  in  March). f 

They  have  since  been  known  to  breed  regulaily  on  Mount  Tom, 
Mass.,  where  their  eggs  were  first  taken,  April  19,  1864,  by  Mr.  C, 
W.  Bennett,^  of  Holyoke,  Their  nest  was  again  robbed,  by  Mr. 
Bennett,  in  1866  and  in  1869.  Mr.  J.  A.  Allen,  in  his  "Notes  on 
some  of  the  llarer  Birds  of  Massachusetts,"  writes  :  '•'•  During  a  visit 
to  this  Mountain  [Mt.  Tom],  in  company  with  Mr.  Bennett  (Apr,  28, 
1869),  we  had  the  great  pleasure  of  discovering  their  second  eyrie, 
from  whicli,  witli  considerable  ditlicnlty,  tlnee  freshly  laid  eggs  were 
obtained.     Not  discoui'aged   by  this  second  misfortune,  tliey  nested 

*  See  an  interesting  Article  in  Am.  Nat,  vol.  v,  No.  2,  p.  82,  April,  1871. 

f  Hartford  Times,  June  2i),  18(!1. 

\  See  Proceed.  Essex  Inst.,  vol.  iv,  p.  J  53. 


C.  IT.  j\fern'<()N — Birds  of  Connecticut.  83 

again,  this  time  (Icpositiiig  their  eggs  in  the  uhl  eyrie  lioni  which  .ill 
except  the  hist  set  of  eggs  have  been  obtained.  Again  thcv  \\<ic 
unfortunate,  Mr.  Bennett  removing  tlieir  seeor.d  set  of  e<»-gs,  liner  in 
number,  May  "^;^<1,  at  wliicli  time  in<-iib;ition  liad  just  (•(unnicnccd. 
The  birds  remained  about  the  moiinlaiii  all  tiie  suniinei',  ami  linni 
the  anxiety  they  manifested  in  August  it  appears  not  iniprol);ible 
that  they  had  laid  a  third  tjme,  and  at  this  late  period  had  unfledged 
young."*  Mr.  Harold  Herrick  states  that  it  is  common  on  the  Island 
of  Grand  Menan,  N.  B.,  where  it  "  breeds  on  the  clifls,  but  in  such 
inaccessible  situations  that  its  nest  is  rarely  taken.  There  is  a  place 
between  'Fish  Head'  and  the  'Old  Bishop'  known  as  the  'Seven 
Day's  Work,'  where  the  cliff  is  divided  into  seven  strata  as  sharply 
defined  as  lines  of  masonry.  On  an  indentation  in  the  face  of  this 
cliff,  about  one  hundred  feet  from  the  top,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  from  the  bottom,  a  pair  of  these  Falcons  have  had  their  eyrie  for 
a  succession  of  years,  secure  alike  from  the  assaults  of  the  most  zeal- 
ous naturalist,  and  the  small  boy  of  bird's-egging  proclivities."! 

Mr.  W.  W.  Coe,  of  Portland,  Conn.,  tells  mo  that  while  duck 
shooting  a  few  years  since,  as  the  birds  rose  at  the  report  of  his  gun, 
a  Duck  Hawk  dove,  struck  a  Teale,  on  the  wing,  and  carried  it  off! 
Dr.  Wood  writes:  "In  the  vicinity  of  theii-  breeding  places  they  are 
a  terror  to  the  poultry  as  well  as  a  dread  to  the  farmer,  for  there 
they  usually  hunt  in  pairs,  one  following  directly  after  the  other, 
and  if  the  first  one  misses  the  game,  the  other  is  sure  to  j»ick  it  up  ; 
there  is  no  escaping  the  two.  This  is  the  universal  testimony  of  all 
the  farmers  living  in  the  vicinity  of  the  cliffs  where  they  breed.  One 
of  my  collectors  Avent  over  one  hundred  miles  to  get  a  nest  of  their 
eggs,  from  only  hearing  a  farmer  in  the  vicinity  of  the  cliff  describe 
their  manner  of  hunting  ;  knowing  from  this  circumstance  alone  that 
it  must  be  the  Duck  Hawk. "J 

161.   FalCO  COlumbariuS  Linnt".         Pigeon  Hawk. 

Resident,  but  rare  in  summer,  and  not  often  seen  in  winter.  It  is 
not  uncommon  here  in  spring  and  fall.  Dr.  \Vm.  Wood  tells  me  that 
he  has  found  it  about  East  Windsor  Hill,  Conn.,  in  May,  June,  and 
July,  but  failed  to  discover  the  nest.     He  is  not,  of  course,  perfectly 


*  Notes  on  some  of  the  Rarer  Birds  of  Mass.,  p.  10-1 1,  1869. 

\  Herrick's  Partial  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Grand  Meiiaii,  p.  10,  IS?."?. 

X  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  v,  No.  2,  p.  82,  April,  1S71. 


84  G.  H.  Merriam — BirtJs  of  Connecticut. 

certain  that  they  breed  there  at  all,  though  then*  occurrence  in  early 
summer  certainly  looks  like  it.  I  have  seen  it,  in  the  vicinity  of  New 
Haven,  in  April,  and  again  in  August  and  Septeml^er,  and  now  have 
notes  of  its  presence  in  this  State  in  every  month  of  the  year.  In 
one  of  his  interesting  articles  on  the  ''  Game  Falcons  of  New  Eng- 
land," Dr.  Wood  writes:  "In  May,  1860,  a  gentleman  who  resides 
some  five  miles  distant,  informed  me  that  a  small  Hawk  came  almost 
every  day  and  carried  off  a  chicken  for  him — that  it  never  missed, 
for  it  went  so  like  lightning  that  there  was  no  escaping  its  grasp. 
He  said  that  it  always  came  in  the  same  direction  from  a  tract  of 
woods  near  his  house Accompanied  by  my  frietid,  we  care- 
fully searched  the  woods  without  finding  anything  except  the  nest  of 
the  Red-shouldered  Hawk.  The  next  day  the  same  little  Hawk  ve- 
turned  and  was  shot,  and  is  now  in  my  collection,  a  beautiful  rejire- 
sentative  of  the  Pigeon  Hawk.  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  had  a 
nest  about  there,  as  it  was  the  season  for  nesting,  and  it  always  came 
from,  and  went  to,  the  same  piece  of  woods,  and  in  the  same  direc 
tion.  If  it  had  not  yoimg  it  must  have  been  carrying  food  to  its 
mate  while  incubating.  If  a  mere  straggler  it  would  come  and  go 
without  any  definite  place  of  resort.  Our  inaliility  to  find  the  nest 
was  not  strange,  as  there  were  some  sixty  or  eighty  acres  of  heavy- 
timbered  oaks  and  pines  in  the  tract."*  Mr.  Geo.  A.  Boardman 
states  that  it  "  breeds  in  hollow  trees, "f  which  would,  of  course, 
render  its  nest  still  more  ditticult  to  find.  I  am  strongly  inclined  to 
believe  that  a  few  pairs  do  occasionally  breed  in  Connecticut,  for, 
though  its  nest  has  not  yet  been  actually  discovered,  the  fiict  that 
the  birds  are  sometimes  found  here  throughout  the  entire  year  is 
strong  evidence  that  they  breed,  and  mere  negative  evidence,  in  such 
cases,  amounts  to  little  or  nothing. 

1 62.  Falco  Sparverius  Linne.         .Sparrow  Hawk. 

A  rather  rare  resident ;  only  a  few  pairs  breed  Avithin  the  State, 
and  it  is  seldom  seen  in  winter.  ]Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  tells  me  that  it 
breeds  near  Portland,  Conn.,  and  I  am  informed  by  Dr.  Wood  that 
it  sometimes  breeds  in  the  vicinity  of  East  Windsor  Hill. 

Dr.  Wood  thus  describes  a  novel  site  for  a  nest  of  this  Hawk 
which  was  found  at  Granby,  Conn.  :  "■  A  farmer  made  a  dove  house 
inside  of  his  barn  with  holes  through  the  sides  of  the  building  com- 

*  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  No.  6,  pp.  342-3,  June,  1873. 

f  Proceed.  Boat.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ix,  p.  122,  Sept.,  18fi2. 


G.  If.  Men-id  III — liii'<ls  of  ('oinicrtifiit. 


85 


muiiit-atiiiu-  witli  it.  A  pair  ,.r  doves  dial  ha.l  mstcl  iIi.tc  wciv 
attacked  aiul  killed  l.y  a  ].aii-  of  Sparrow  Hawks  wlio  look  posses- 
sion of  their  neisl,  laid  tour  eggs,  and  coniineiu-ed  to  sit.  During 
incubation  they  found  the  fanner's  chickens  very  convenient  tor  food 
— too  niucli  so  for  their  own  good.  I  saw  l)()tli  birds  after  tlu-v  were 
killed  ;  also  their  four  eggs,  two  of  which  arc  now  in  my  cabiiu't."* 
In  Elizabeth,  New  Jersey,  several  years  ago,  I  saw  a  pair  of  Sparrow 
Hawks  fly  up  under  the  eaves  of  an  old  barn,  and  drag  a  couple  of 
Swallows  out  of  their  nests  !  Mr.  Sage  has  seen  it  in  Januarv  (.Ian. 
6,  1877),  near  Portland,  Conn.,  and  T)r.  Wood  writes  nie  that  he  has 
occasionally  taken  it  in  winter. 

"  Sparhawkes  there  are  also,"  wrote  Morton  in  1632,  "the  fairest, 
and  best,  shaped  birds  that  I  have  ever  beheld  of  that  kinde,  those 
that  are  litle,  no  use  is  made  of  any  of  them,  neither  are  they  re- 
garded, I  onely  tried  conclusions  with  a  Lannaret  at  first  commin<r ; 
and  when  I  found,  what  was  in  that  bird,  I  turned  him  goiixr :  but 
for  so  much  as  I  have  observed  of  those  birds,  they  may  be  a  iitt 
present  for  a  prince  ;  and  for  goodnesse  too  be  preferred  before  the 
Barbary,  or  any  other  used  in  Christendome,  and  especially  the 
Lannars  and  Lannarets."f  The  above  may  have  referred  to  the 
Sharp-shinned  Hawk. 

163.  ButeO  borealis  (Gmelin)  Vieillot.         Red-tailed  Hawk  ;   Hen  Hawk. 

A  common  resident,  but  more  numerous  in  early  spring  and  during 
the  fall  migrations  than  at  other  times  of  the  year.  The  migrants 
arrive  early  in  March,  and  in  fall,  may  be  seen,  in  considerable  num- 
bers, in  September,  October,  and  xNovember.  On  the  •25th  of  Sej)- 
tember,  1875, 1  saw,  near  New  Haven,  a  flock  of  twenty-six  Red-tailed 
Hawks,  soaring  high,  and  sailing  slowly  southward.  The  day  was 
clear  and  cool,  and  there  was  little  wind. 

Mr.  W,  W.  Coe,  of  Portland,  Conn.,  has  been  remarkably  fortunate 
in  finding  the  nests  of  this  Hawk,  having  taken,  during  the  past  five 
years,  nearly  forty  of  its  eggs  !  The  best  time  to  go  for  them  seems 
to  be  about  the  middle  of  April,  but  he  has  found  nests,  containing 
eggs,  at  all  dates  from  March  30tli  (1875)  to  :\Iay  23d  (1873),  thougli 
the  young  generally  hatch  during  the  latter  part  of  .V])ril  or  eaily  in 
May.  The  Stadtmiiller  brothers  found  a  nest,  near  New  Haven, 
April  13,  ISYV,  containing  three  eggs  which  "were  just  beginning  to 

*  Am.  Nat,  vol.  viii,  No.  5,  p.  268,  May,  1874. 

f  New  English  Canaan,  p.  50.     [Reprinted  from  Force's  Hist.  Tracts,  vol.  ii,  T.  5.] 


86  C.  IL  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

hatch."*  The  Red-tailed  Hawk  generally  lays  two,  frequently  three, 
and  sometimes  four,  eggs.  In  writing  of  them,  from  Portland,  Conn., 
Mr.  Coe  says  :  "  Their  nests  are  easily  identified,  being  the  largest 
nests  built  in  this  locality,  and  the  earliest.  They  lay  in  the  same 
nest  year  after  year  if  not  disturbed,  and  often  if  they  are.  I  once 
found  a  nest  in  a  young  chestnut,  not  over  twenty  feet  from  the 
ground,  but  they  commonly  build  high  up  in  large  trees."f 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Peabody,  in  his  Report  on  the  Birds  of  Massachu- 
setts (in  1839),  remarked  that  these  Hawks,  "  like  the  Crow,  seem  to 
have  an  intuitive  perception  of  the  use  and  reach  of  the  gun,  for  if 
they  see  a  person  armed,  they  give  a  scream  of  disgust,  and  sail 
away  far  beyond  his  reach. "| 

They  are  often  called  Hen  Hawks  from  their  frequent  visits  to  the 
poultry  yard.  I  have  also  found,  in  their  alimentary  canals,  the 
remains  of  mice,  snakes,  and  frogs. 

1  64.    ButeO  lineatUS   (Gmelin)  Jardine.         Red-slioiildered  Hawk. 

A  common  resident,  like  the  last,  but  more  frequently  seen  in  win- 
ter. Also  breeds  in  high  trees.  Mr.  Coe  writes  me  that  it  generally 
lays  a  little  later  than  the  Red-tail,  makes  a  smaller  nest,  and  is  more 
likely  to  build  a  new  one  every  year.  He  has  taken  their  eggs  from 
April  16th  (only  one  egg,  just  deposited)  till  May  19th.  They 
generally  lay  three  or  four  eggs,  and  sometimes  five.  Dr.  Wood  once 
found  six  !  I  once  took  from  the  stomach  of  one  of  these  Hawks  a 
snake  {Eutainia  saurita)  measuring  twenty-two  inches  in  length  ! 

A  young  bird,  which  Dr.  Wood  raised,  became  very  much  attached 
to  him.  He  says  :  "  by  giving  a  whistle  he  would  answer  w  ith  his 
ka-hee^  ka-Iiee.,  ka-hee^  and  fiy  from  the  tree  and  alight  on  my  shoulder, 
expecting  his  accustomed  morsel.  I  did  not  confine  him  at  all,  but 
allowed  him  to  fly  where  he  pleased,  knowing  that  he  would  not  go  far 
oft'.  The  domestic  fowls  became  so  well  acquainted  with  him  that 
they  showed  no  signs  of  fear  when  he  alighted  on  a  tree  or  post  wvwr 
them.  One  morning  he  did  not  come  at  iny  call,  nor  at  noon.  In 
the  afternoon  I  went  in  search  of  him  and  whistled  till  my  lips  would 
not  pucker  any  longer,  yet  no  bird  answered  to  the  music.  The  next 
morning  he  was  brought  to  me  as  a  rare  specimen  with  the  following 


*  MS.  notes  of  the  Stadtmiillcr  Brothers, 
f  MS.  notes  of  W.  W.  Coe. 

\  A  Report  on  the  ( )rnitholog'y  of  Massacluisetts,  by  WilHam  B.  O.  Peabody,  p. 
268.  18:^9. 


C  II.  Merrlntn — liinJx  of  ( 'oiimctlrKf.  87 

sequel  :  '  He  cMine  :in<l  nlinhtcd  on  my  tem-e  witliiii  a  lew  feet  of  mv 
when  I  was  feeding  my  fowls.  1Micy  flew  in  v\v\\  diicctidn.  (aiv- 
fully  steppino-  up  1  caught  tlu'  pretty  ereatnie  and  thought  I  wouhl 
save  him  for  tlie  doctor.  Putting  him  into  a  box,  I  gave  him  some 
corn;  hut  he  did  not  seem  /niit(/n/,  <(nd  would  not  eat  a  kerml.'"''* 
Again,  under  the  name  of  "Winter  Hawk  (Buteo  /ii/enta/is),''  the 
doctor  continues:  "Sitting  patiently  upon  a  tree  near  some  sprin<»- 
or  marshy  ground,  it  will  watch  by  the  hour  for  a  frog  to  make  its 
appearance,  when  it  is  immediately  seized  and  drowned.  TlieR-  is  a 
side-hill,  some  few  miles  from  my  office,  from  wliicli  springs  con- 
stantly run  in  the  coldest  weather,  forming  quite  a  wet,  marsliy  place, 
offering  great  inducements  to  the  Winter  Hawk.  Here  you  may  see 
one  or  more  of  these  birds  every  winter,  perched  upon  a  free  near  by 
watching  for  its  favorite  food.  I  received  two  sj)ecimens  shot  from 
that  tree  in  one  day."f 

165.  Buteo   Pennsylvanicus   (Wilson)  Bonaparte.     Broad-winged  JIawk. 

A  rather  rare  resident,  seldom  seen  in  winter.  It  breeds  sparintfly 
about  New  Haven,  and  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  has  taken  quite  a  number  of 
their  nests,  together  with  several  of  the  finest  specimens  of  the  l>ird 
that  I  have  ever  seen,  in  the  vicinity  of  Portland,  Conn.  He  informs 
me  that  they  generally  lay  later  than  the  Red-shouldered  Hawks,  and. 
like  them,  often  build  a  new  nest  every  year. 

Mr.  F.  VV.  Putnam  (in  1856)  gave  it  as  a  rare  winter  visitant  so 
far  north  as  Essex  Co.,  Mass.J 

166.  Archibuteo  lagopus,  var.  Sancti-Johannis  (Omeiin)  Ridgway. 

Rough-legged  Hawk  ;  Black  Hawk. 

A  winter  visitor ;  not  common.  I  saw  one  near  Xew  Haven,  Nov. 
20th,  1875.  Mr.  Geo.  Bird  Grinnell  tells  me  that  he  has  seen  it,  in 
spring,  near  North  Haven,  Conn.  It  is  sometimes  quite  aluunlant  on 
the  low  meadows  bordering  the  (-oiniecticut  River,  where,  in  the 
vicinity  of  East  Windsor  Ilill,  Conn.,  Dr.  William  Wood  has 
secured  a  large  number  of  specimens.  The  s|)lendid  series  thus 
obtained,  enabled  him,  many  years  ago,  to  [trove  the  identity  of  the 
two  forms,   lagopus  and  Sancti-Johamiis,  then  considered,   by   our 

*  Hartford  Times,  chap,  xii,  June  8th,  18G1. 
f  Hartford  Times,  chap,  xiii,  June  15th,  1861. 
:|:  Proceed.  Essex  Inst.,  vol.  i,  p.  203.     185(5. 


88  C.  II.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

best  Ornithologists,  to  be  specifically  distinct.  As  long  ago  as  1861 
Dr.  Wood  published  the  following :  "  The  difference  in  size  is  no 
more  than  frequently  occurs  in  birds  of  the  same  species.  The  shape 
and  general  form,  the  small  claws,  the  same  habits  in  every  respect, 
their  arrival  at  the  same  time,  associating  and  sailing  together,  the 
plumage  of  the  one  running  into  the  other  as  it  changes,  so  that  it  is 
diificult,  if  not  impossible,  to  tell  where  the  dividing  line  comes,  some 
being  jet-black,  others  not  quite  as  dark,  others  slightly  mixed,  some 
more  so,  certainly  make  a  strong  case  in  favor  of  their  identity."* 
Three  years  later  the  doctor  wrote  J.  A.  Allen  that  he  had  then  taken 
and  examined  about  forty  specimens,  and  could  now  state  positively 
that:  "The  Rough-legged  P"'alcon  and  Black  Hawk  are  the  same.''''] 
Both  Baird  and  Coues,  in  their  late  works  on  our  birds,  state  that  the 
examination  of  a  large  mnnber  of  specimens  leaves  little  doul)t  as  to 
the  identity  of  the  two  forms  under  consideration,  each  iising  such 
language  as  to  indicate  an  original  discovery  dependant  on  his  own 
investigations,  and  neither  alludes  to  the  published  records  of  Dr. 
Wood,  who,  long  before,  ai'rived  at  the  same  conclusion,  and  from  a 
larger  amount  of  material,  and  of  better  quality,  than  is  to  be  found 
in  any  other  collection  in  the  world. 

1  67.  Pandion  haliaetus  (Linne)  Cuvier.         Fish  Hawk ;  Osprey. 

A  summer  resident,  breeding  abundantly  along  the  coast,  both  on 
the  main  land  and  on  islands  in  the  Sound.  It  is  particularly  abund- 
ant during  the  spring  migrations.  It  arrives  late  in  March  (March 
28,  1877),  remaining  through  October  (Oct.  23).  The  migrants  pass 
northward  during  the  latter  part  of  April,  and  return  agaiii  in  ^Sep- 
tember.  Mr.  Fred.  Sumner  Smith,  of  this  city,  tells  me  that  a  friend 
of  his  found  a  Fish  Hawk's  nest  in  Heron  Swamp  (near  New  Haven) 
as  late  as  July  4th,  (1870).  It  was  a  small  one,  being  little  larger 
than  a  bushel  basket,  was  placed  in  a  clump  of  thick  busiies,  and  con- 
tained three  eggs.  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  informs  me  that  they  do  not 
breed  so  far  up  the  Connecticut  River  as  Middlctown  and  Portland, 
but  are  common  at  its  moutli  (about  Saybrook),  and  that  he  has  taken 
their  nests,  along  the  Sound,  all  the  way  from  Saybrook  to  New 
London,  Coim.  "Immense  numbers  of  them  breed  regularly  at 
IMumb  Island,  Conn,,  where  I  saw,  last  spring,  at  least  five  hundred 
nests,  and  over  a  thousand  birds.     There  is  only  one  small   piece  of 

*  Hartford  Times,  chap,  xiv,  June  22d,  1861. 

\  Allen's  notes  on  some  of  the  Rarer  Birds  of  Mass.,  p.  14.     1869. 


C  IT.  MerriiiiH — liin/s  of  (\,),iitrtifii(.  HO 

timber  on  the  islaiul,  and  every  tree  contains  a  Kisli  Hawk's  n«'sl,<.f 
from  eight  to  ten  Night  Herons'  nests.  'I'ln  ri"  is  (juitc  a  c.h.iiy  '>f 
Night  Herons  there.  'VWw  not  being  trees  eiiongii  fm- tlie  Il.iwks 
to  nest  in,  many  of  tlii'in  build  on  tlie  ground  and  sumelav  their  eg,rs 
in  tlie  sand.  Tliey  o('eu|)y  the  same  nest  foi-  yeai-s,  adding  a  litlh-  to 
it  each  seasou,  till  some  of  them,  tliat  were  originally  |>la«-ed  ll;it  on 
the  gi'ound,  had  beeome  so  large  that  T  could  not  look  into  tlu-ni. 
Many  were  seven  feet  high  and  measured  si.\  or  eight  feet  across  the 
top  !  On  the  4tli  of  .June  I  found  both  young  birds  ami  iVesli  ei^gs  in 
some  of  the  nests,  'i'he  Crow  Blackbirds  had  Imilt  theii-  nests  in 
among  the  large  sticks  on  the  sides  of  the  Fish  Hawk's  nests,  there 
being  olten  four  or  five  of  the  foi-nier  placed  about  the  sides  of  one  of 
the  latter.  Besides  the  Fish  Hawks,  Night  Herons,  and  Crow  Black- 
birds, many  other  birds  breed  upon  this  island,  among  which  might 
be  mentioned  the  Upland  and  Killdeer  IMovir,  and  large  nundjers  of 
Terns."* 

The  Rev.  \Vm.  B.  O.  Peabody,  in  1839,  tlius  wrote  of  their  habits : 
"  The  Fish  Hawk  is  on  excellent  terms  with  the  iishermen,  though 
they  are  of  the  same  trade.  Its  coming  announces  tlu'  arrival  of  the 
shoals  of  lish  that  crowd  our  rivers  in  the  spring.  l*erhaps  its  exemp- 
tion from  persecution  may  be  owing  also  to  its  well  known  gentleness 
of  disposition.  Unlike  other  birds  of  prey,  the  Fish  Hawks  are 
social  and  friendly  to  each  other.  They  come  to  us  in  flocks  of  eight 
or  ten,  who  build  near  each  other,  and  rear  their  young  in  perfect 
harmony,  and  this  spirit  of  hos|)itality  and  kindness  is  extended  to 
other  birds  that  seem  to  have  no  claim  upon  them.  The  Crow  lilack- 
birds  are  permitted  to  shelter  in  the  intei'stices  of  their  nests,  w  hich 
are  huge  constructions,  made  of  a  cartload  of  hi-avy  materials  firmly 
matted  together. "f 

1 68.  Aquila  chrysaetUS  Linne.         Golden  Eagle. 

A  rare  winter  visitant.  Dr.  Wood  informs  me  that  it  is  sometimes 
seen  about  Hartford,  Conn.  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark,  of  Saybrook,  Conn., 
writes  me  that  he  sees  one  or  two  there  every  year,  and  that  one 
remained  in  that  vicinity  a  week,  about  the  middle  of  May  hisl  (1S77). 
One  was  secured  at  Deep  lliver,  Conn.,  Nov.  i;nh,  IsTo,  by  Mr.  Harry 
Flint.  Zadock  Thompson  stated  that  they  sonu'tinu's  live  in  \'erm..nl , 
and  says  that  "  the  nest  is  placed  upon  the  inaccessible  shelf  of  some 


*  MS.  notes  of  W.  W.  Coe. 

f  Peabody's  Report  on  the  Ornithology  of  M;iss.,  p.  "JOo.     IS.'Jt). 
Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Vol.  IV.  Vi  July,  1877. 


90  C.  H.  Merriuin — Birds  of  Coxitecticiit. 

rugged  precipice,  and  consists  of  a  few  sticks  and  weeds  barely  suf- 
ficient to  keep  the  eggs  from  rolling  down  the  rocks These 

eagles  feed  upon  young  fawns,  hares,  raccoons,  Avild  turkeys,  par- 
tridges, and  other  quadrupeds  and  birds,  but  will  feed  on  putrid  flesh 
only  when  severely  pressed  by  hunger."* 

169.  HaliaetUS  leucocephalus  (Linne)  Savigny.         Bald  Eagle. 

A  resident;  not  uncommon  during  the  migrations.  Saw  one  flying 
over  the  city,  Nov.  20th,  1875.  Also  observed  five  individuals  during 
Feb.  and  March,  1876.  They  unquestionably  breed  about  four  miles 
above  the  mouth  of  the  Housatonic  River,  Conn.,  as  I  am  told  by  my 
friend,  Mr.  Geo.  Bird  Grinnell.  One  was  shot  near  the  mouth  of  the 
East  Haven  River  in  Nov.,  1876,  and  is  now  in  the  collection  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Osborne  of  this  city.  Used  to  brped  in  suitable  localities 
throughout  the  State,  and  there  were  formerly  two  eyries  within  a 
few  miles  of  New  Haven,  one  at  Mt.  Carmel,  and  the  other  on  Salton- 
stall  Ridge,  f 

Linsley  kept  an  immature  specimen  (cdled  by  him  "Washington's 
Eagle")  alive  for  some  time,  concerning  which  he  writes:  "1  kept  him 
awhile  confined,  but  soon  found  it  uiniecessary,  because  if  he  left  my 
premises  he  would  return  to  the  stand  at  night.  I  have  known  him 
to  eat  fourteen  lurds  (nu)stly  King-birds),  and  then  he  was  satisfied 
for  a  Aveek.  He  appeared  to  prefer  this  mode  of  liA'ing,  and  paid  no 
attention  to  a  daily  supply.  He,  however,  in  the  course  of  the  summer, 
became  so  mischievous  among  the  young  dncks  of  my  neighbors,  that 
I  was  compelled  to  kill  him.  A  single  anecdote  of  his  conduct  may 
not  be  uninteresting:  While  he  had  |)ossession  of  my  front  yard, 
occupying  the  centre  as  his  stand  (the  walks  making  a  semicircle  to 
the  door),  he  would  remain  perfectly  cpiiet  if  </entlenieii  or  ladies 
entered;  but  if  a  person  with  tattered  garments,  or  such  persons  as 
were  not  accustomed  to  come  in  at  the  front  door,  entered  the  yard, 
it  was  actually  dangerous  for  them,  and  they  could  only  escape  the 
tremendous  grasp  of  his  talons  by  running  with  their  full  strength 
and  shutting  the  gate  after  them.  Facts  of  this  kind  often  occurred, 
and  T  was  occasionally  compelk'd  to  release  from  his  grasp  such  indi- 
viduals as  he  had  taken  captive.  With  one  claw  in  tlu'  sward  and 
grass,  he  would  hold  quietly  any  man  with  the  other." 


*  History  of  Vermont,  by  Zadock  Thompson,  p.  59,  1842. 

f  Am.  Jonr.  Sei.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv.  No.  2,  p.  251,  April,  1843. 


C  II.  Min-rlton — Binfn  of  Conncrflcut.  91 

III  lt;:>4,  NN'illiaiii  Wood  wroir:  '''I'lic  Kaglcs  oft  lie  (Minit  ifv  lie  of 
two  sorts,  OIK"  like  the  Eagles  lliat  l>e  in  I''n(/l<f.n<l^  I  lie  dtlici-  is  aortic 
tliinj;  bigger,  witli  a  great  white  liead  and  wliilc  tavie:  liiese  lice 
coiimionly  called  Ciri[)es;  these  prey  ii|k)ii  Diickes  and  (ieese,  and 
such  Fish  as  are  cast  upon  the  Sea-shore.  And  altliout,fli  an  Ka^le  !..• 
counted  King  of  that  feathered  regiment,  yet  is  there  a  certaine  Idacke 
Ilawke  that  beates  him;  so  that  he  is  constrayned  to  soai-e  so  lii.^h, 
till  heate  expell  his  adversary."* 


Family,  CATHARTID^. 

170.   Cathartes  aura  (lamu'')  lUi^er.         Turkey  Buzzard. 

A  rare  visitor  from  the  South,  at  present,  although  once  "not  un- 
common "f  according  to  Linsley,  who  fuither  states:  "I  have  known 
it  in  Connecticut  from  a  child,  having  at  that  period  counted  twenty  in 
a  flock  in  Northford  in  the  month  of  August."  "At  the  South,  where 
they  abound,  it  is  seldom  one  attacks  domestic  ])oultry  ;  but  many 
years  since  I  saw  in  Northford,  in  this  State,  a  splendid  male  Turkey 
Buzzard  pounce  down  upon  a  chicken  about  three-<piarters  grown, 
and  within  about  three  rods  of  where  I  was  staiiding  with  two  other 
persons.  As  he  turned  his  eye  upon  us,  still  standing  upon  the 
chicken,  he  appeared  so  much  alarmed  as  to  be  unal)le  to  rise;  we  all 
ran  upon  him,  aud  when  ^dthin  a  few  feet  of  him  he  rose,  just  clear- 
ing our  heads,  and  dropping  the  chicken  at  our  feet,  he  hurried  oft'."J 
This  fact  is  particularly  interesting,  since  they  are  commonly  believed 
to  feed  exclusively  on  carrion.  Nuttall  heard  that  they  were  "  ac- 
cused, at  times,  of  attacking  young  pigs  and  lambs,  beginning  their 
assault  by  ]ncking  out  the  eyes."  But  that  he  did  not  believe  it  is 
evident,  for  he  goes  on  to  say:  " Mr.  Waterton,  however,  Avhile  at 
Demerara,  watched  them  for  hours  together  amidst  reptiles  of  all 
descriptions,  but  they  never  made  any  attack  upon  them.  He  e\en 
killed  lizards  and  frogs  and  put  them  in  their  way,  but  they  did  n(.t 
appear  to  notice  them  till  tlu'y  had  attained  the  juitrid  scent.  So 
that  a  more  harmless  animal,  living  at  all  upon  flesh,  is  not  in  exist- 
ence, than  the  Turkey  Vulture."§     Nevertheless,  since  our  own  mod- 


*  New  England's  Prospect,  p.  30,  1 634. 

f  Regarding  its  former  abundance,  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark  writes  me  that  an  old  liunter 
told  him  "  tliat  thej'  used  to  be  very  common  "  about  the  moutli  of  the  Connecticut, 
where  "he  had  shot  a  good  many,  but  not  recently." 

X  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2,  p.  '250,  April,  1843. 

g  Nuttall's  Manual  of  Oniitholooy,  p.  15,  ls3-2. 


92  C.  IT.  Merriayn — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

ern  classification  of  the  Animal  Kingdom  is  not  sufficiently  plastic  to 
admit  of  grouping  together  chickens,  pigs,  and  lambs,  under  the 
head  of  " Reptiles,"  along  with  "lizards  and  frogs,"  and  the  like,  and 
since  the  word  of  so  careful  and  conscientious  an  observer  as  Mr. 
Linsley  is  unimpeachable,  we  are  forced  to  admit  that  these  "harm- 
less animals"  do  occasionally  visit  the  farm-yard  Avith  "malice  afore- 
thought," and  that  a  young  fowl,  safely  lodged  in  the  otherwise 
empty  stomach,  may  not  prove  an  altogether  distasteful  article,  ex- 
erting, perchance,  as  soothing  an  effect  over  the  sluggish  intellect  of 
one  of  these  indolent  scavengers  as  the  most  delicious  morsel  of  pu- 
trescent carrion.  Indeed,  Audubon  says  of  it :  "  they  often  watch  the 
young  kid,  the  lamb,  and  the  pig,  issuing  from  the  mother's  womb, 
and  attack  it  with  direful  success."  "Any  flesh  that  they  can  at 
once  tear  with  their  very  powerful  bill  in  pieces,  is  swallowed,  no 
matter  how  fresh ;  .  .  .  .  but  it  frequently  happens  that  these  birds 
are  forced  to  wait  until  the  hide  of  the  prey  gives  way  to  the  bill."* 
Mr.  Grinnell  tells  me  that  one  was  shot  at  the  mouth  of  the  Hous- 
atonic  River,  Conn.,  in  June,  IS'ZS,  by  C.  Merwin,  of  Mili'ord  Point. 
Turkey  Buzzards  have  been  observed  at  Saybrook,  Comi.,  by  ]Mr.  J. 
N.  Clark)  recorded  by  Purdie  ;f  two  were  taken  in  Massachusetts,^ 
and  one  even  strayed  as  far  to  the  north  as  Calais,  Maine,  wliei-e  it- 
was  captured  by  INIr.  G.  A.  Boardman  (recorded  by  Prof  A.  E.  Ver- 
rill).^  Dr.  Wood  tells  me  that  one  was  seen,  feeding  on  carrion, 
near  East  Windsor,  Coini.,  only  three  years  ago  (f  874).  The  Rev. 
J.  Howard  Hand  writes  me  as  follows,  concerning  the  occurrence  of 
Turkey  Buzzards  in  Connecticut :  "I  took  one  specimen  at  Cromwell, 
Conn.,  Sept.  28d,  1874;  also  one  at  Westbrook,  Conn.,  Oct.  16th, 
1875,  and  again  eight  specimens  on  Oct.  18th  (two  days  afterwards). 
They  are  not  common."  Dr.  Win.  O.  Ayres  writes  me  that  he  took 
one  at  New  Haven  in  1853. 

Along  our  eastern  coast  it  does  not  l>reed  farther  north  than  South- 
ern New  Jersey;  but  in  the  West  its  range  is  much  more  extensive, 
its  northern  limit  being  "about  53°  in  the  region  of  the  Saskatchewan, 
where  it  arrives  in  June,"|  and  was  obtained  by  Sir  John  Richardson. 
Dr.  Coues  saw  it  at  P^ort  Randall,  Dakota,  lat.  43°  11',  and  I  have 


*  Ajipcndix  to  Wilson's  American  Ornithology,  vol.  iv,  pp.  '2.'>4  and  2.5^,  is;u. 
\  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  vii,  No.  11,  p.  69:?,  Nov.,  187:?. 

\  Samuel's  De.'^criptive  Catalof^ne  of  tiie  Birds  of  Massadiiisetts,  p.  :i,  18<;4.     [From 
Agr.  Mass.,  App.,  p.  xviii,  1863.] 

§Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat  Hist.,  vol.  ix.  p.  122,  Sept..  isr;2. 
II  Cones'  l?irds  of  the  Northwest,  p.  .380,  187  1. 


(^.  If.  JMcrridiii — /iinfs  of  (\mneot!cnt. 


nn 


niysclf  ol.scTvcd  it  in  Idaho,  \V  voiniii-;-,  aii<l  Ctali.  It  w  av  nncf 
coTiniioii  tliroiiolKMit  New  Kiiglaiid,  as  attested  l.y  mimciuns  <.ld 
writers.  Jossclyn  must  liave  been  blessed  with  a  keen  a|.|ietite  and 
an  admirable  diuestion,  lor  he  says :  "The  turkie-I.uzzard,  a  kind  ..f 
kite,  but  as  big  as  a  turkie;  brown  of  eolor,  and  very  good  nuat."* 

Note. — The  IMaek  \'idture,  (\if/iarf<s  iffr</f>/s  (Kay)  Lesson,  may 
sometimes  oecnr  as  a  rare  straggU'r  from  the  South,  and  the  h'cv.  .1. 
Howard  Hand  writes  nie  that  he  thinks  he  has  killed  three  speeimens 
of  it  at  Westbrook,  Coim.  (Aug.  10,  Sept.  12  ami  21,  1874),  but  they 
may  have  been  young  Turkey  Buzzards.  ITnfortunateiy  the  spcci- 
mens  were  not  preserved.  Several  individuals  have  been  recorded 
from  MassachusettSjf  and  it  has  even  straggled  as  far  north  as  .Maine 
(Calais,  G.  A.  Boardman)J  and  Nova  Scotia. 

Family,  COLUMBID^. 

171.  EctopisteS  migratoria  (Liune)  Swainson.         AVild  Pifreon. 

Sometimes   quite   abundant  during  the  migrations.     A   t'ow  l»ree(l 
(late  in  May).     Arrives  about  the  first  of  April  (Apr.  2,  1S75,  Saoe). 
Mr.  Coe  tells  me  that  numbers  of  them  bred  about  Portland,  Conn, 
in  1875,  and  that  a  few  generally  nest  there. 

Concerning  the  enormous  Hocks  of  Wild  I'igeons  whieli  iiassed  to 
and  fro  over  the  country  in  former  years  (and  which,  on  a  smaller 
scale,  are  still  to  be  met  with  in  some  parts  of  the  West),  Gov.  Thomas 
Dudley  wrote,  as  early  as  10:?1  :  "  Vpon  the  8  of  March,  from  after 
it  was  faire  day  light,  untill  about  8  of  the  clock  in  the  forenoone 
there  flew  over  all  the  tonnes  in  our  plantacous  soe  many  floeks  of 
doues,  each  flock  conteyning  many  thousands  and  some  soe  many 
that  they  obscured  the  lighte,  that  it  passeth  credit,  if  but  the  truth 
should  bee  wi-itten,  and  the  thing  was  the  more  sti'ange,  because  I 
scarce  remember  to  have  scene  tenne  doues  since  I  came  into  the 
country.  They  were  all  turtles  as  a|)peared  by  diverse  of  them  wee 
killed  flying,  somewhat  bigger  than  those  of  Eni'0]ie,  and  they  Hew 
from  the  north  east  to  the  south  west ;  but  what  it  ])ortends  1  know 
not."§     And  in  the  following  year  (1632),  Thonnis   Morton,  of  Clif- 

*  New  England's  Rarities  Discovered.     By  John  Josselyn,  p.  11,  1<j72. 
t  Cones'  List  of  tlie  Birds  of  New  Kuglnnd,  p.  6,  1868  ;   J.  A.  Aliens  Rnvvr  \iiuU 
of  Mass.,  p.  47,  1869 ;  etc. 

X  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  iii,  p.  498,  Nov.,  1869. 

§  Reprinted  in  Force's  liistoricul  Tracts,  Tract  4,  p.  17-18. 


94  C.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  (Jonnecticnt. 

ford's  Inn,  speaking  of  liis  impressions  of  the  country,  when  first  he 
landed  in  New  England,  said:  "The  more  T  looked  tlie  more  I  liked 
it.  And  when  I  had  more  seriously  considered  of  the  bewty  of  the 
place,  with  all  her  faire  indowments,  I  did  not  thinke  that  in  all  the 
knowne  world  it  could  be  paralel'd."  "  Contained  within  the  volume 
of  the  Land,  Fowles  in  abundance,  Fish  in  multitude,  and  discovered 
besides  ;  Millions  of  Turtledoves  one  the  greene  boughes :  which  sate 
peeking,  of  the  fidl  ripe  pleasant  grapes,  that  were  supported  l)y  the 
lusty  trees,  whose  fruitfull  loade  did  cause  the  amies  to  bend,  which 
here  and  there  dispersed  (you  might  see)  Lillies  and  of  the  Daph- 
neantree,  which  made  the  Lande  to  mee  seeme  paradice,  for  in  mine 
eie,  t'was  Natures  Master-peece,"* 

In  looking  over  a  curious  old  pamphlet,  printed  in  1630,  and 
entitled  "  New-England's  Plantation.  Or,  a  Short  and  trve  descrip- 
tion of  the  Commodities  an<l  discommodities  of  that  countrey. 
Written  by  a  reuerend  Diuine  now  there  resident.",  T  find  the  follow- 
ing notice  of  the  Wild  Pigeon:  "In  the  Winter  time  I  haue  scene 
Floekes  of  Pidgeons,  and  haue  eaten  of  them  :  they  doe  flye  from 
Tree  to  Tree  as  other  Birds  doe,  which  our  Pidgeons  will  not  doe  in 
England:  they  are  of  all  colours  as  ours  are,  l>ut  their  wings  and 
tayles  are  farr  longei-,  and  therefore  it  is  likely  they  fly  swifter  to 
escape  the  terrible  Hawkes  in  this  Countrey,"f  Samuel  Williams, 
in  his  Natural  and  Civil  History  of  Vermont  (publislied  in  1794), 
writes  as  follows  :  "  In  the  Wild  Pigeon,  the  multiplying  power  of 
Nature  acts  with  great  force  and  vigour.  The  male  and  female 
always  pair:  They  sit  alternately  upon  the  eggs,  and  generally  hatch 
but  two  at  a  time  ;  but  this  is  repeated  several  times  in  a  season. — 
The  accounts  which  are  given  of  the  number  of  pigeons  in  the  uncul- 
tivated parts  of  the  country,  will  appear  almost  incredible  to  those 
who  have  never  seen  their  nests.  The  surveyor,  Kicliard  Ilazen, 
who  ran  the  line  which  divides  Massachusetts  from  Vermont,  in  1/41, 
o-ave  this  account  of  tlie  appearances,  which  he  met  with  to  the  west- 
ward of  Connecticut  I'iver.  'For  three  miles  together  the  pigeon's 
nests  were  so  thick,  that  five  lunulred  might  have  been  told  on  the 
beech  trees  at  one  time  ;  anci  could  they  have  been  counted  on  the 
hemlocks  as  well,  I  doubt  not  but  five  thousand  at  one  turn  round.' 
The  remarks  of  the  first  settlers  of  Vermont,  fully  confirm  this 
account The  settlement  of  the  country  has  since  set  bounds 


*  Reprinted  in  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  Tract  5,  p.  42. 

f  Hepriiited  in  I'eter  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  vol.  i,  Tract  I'i,  p.  11. 


C.  ir.  Merrill  III — BlnJfi  of  ('onm-ctiout. 


95 


to  this  luxiiriaiu-y  of  aiiimnl    liiV- ;   diiiiiiiislir-l    tlic    iiiiiiihvr   <•!'  iIk-si' 
birds,  and  drovi'  tliciii  furtlur  to  tlic  iioit liward.'"* 

Two  centuries  alter  .Mortoirs  descrii.tioii  was  written,  Xutiall 
remarks:  "To  talk  of  hundreds  of  millions  of  individuals  <>f  t  lie  same 
specie's  Iial)itiially  assoi-iated  in  feeding,  roosting,  and  l>rccdinu-,  with- 
out any  regard  to  climate  or  season  as  an  operating  cause  in  these 
gregarious  movements,  would  at  iirst  appear  to  be  wliolly  incredible. 

The  api)roach   of  the  mighty  feathered  army  with  a    loud 

rushing  roar,  and  a  stirring  breeze,  attended  by  a  sudden  daikness 
might  be  mistaken  for  a  fearful  tornado  about  to  overwhelm  the  face 
of  nature.  For  several  hours  together  the  vast  host,  extending  some 
miles  in  breadth,  still  ccuitinues  to  pass  in  flocks  without  diminution. 
The  whole  air  is  tilled  with  them;  their  muting  resembles  a  shower 
of  sleet,  and  they  shut  out  the  light  as  if  it  were  an  eclipse.  At  the 
approach  of  the  Hawk,  their  sublime  and  beautiful  aerial  evolutions 
are  disturbed  like  the  ruftiiug  squall  extending  over  the  })lacid  ocean; 
as  a  thundering  torrent  they  rush  together  in  a  concentrating  mass, 
and  heaving  in  undulating  aiul  glittering  sweeps  towards  the  earth, 
at  length  again  proceed  in  lofty  meanders  like  the  rushing  of  a 
mighty  animated  river."  "  Alighting,  they  industriously  search 
through  the  withered  leaves  for  their  favorite  mast  [chiefly  beech 
nuts  and  acorns]  ;  those  behind  are  continually  rising  and  jtassing 
forward  in  front  in  such  quick  succession,  that  the  whole  flock,  still 
circling  over  the  ground,  seems  yet  on  the  wing.  As  the  sun  begins 
to  decline  tliey  dejjart  in  a  body  for  the  general  roost,  which  is  often 
hundreds  of  miles  distant,  and  is  generally  chosen  in  the  tallest  and 
thickest  forests  almost  divested  of  underwood.  Nothing  can  exceed 
tlie  waste  and  desolation  of  these  nocturnal  resorts  ;  the  vegetation 
becomes  buried  by  their  excrements  to  the  deptli  of  several  inches. 
The  tall  trees,  for  thousands  of  acres,  are  completely  killed,  and  the 
ground  strewed  with  many  branches  torn  down  by  the  clustering 
weight  of  the  birds  which  have  rested  upon  them.  The  whole  region 
for  several  years  presents  a  continued  scene  of  devastation,  as  if  swept 
by  the  resistless  blast  of  a  whirlwind. "f  Wilson  tells  us  that  their 
breeding  places  are  still  more  extensive  than  the  roosts,  mentioning 

one   in    Kentucky   "which   stretched  through  then Is  in  nearly  a 

north  and   south   direction;  was  several  miles  in  breadth,  and  was 
said  to  be  ui)wards  of  forty  miles  in  extent !"     "On  some  single  trees 

*  The  Natural  and  Civil  History  of  Vermont,  p.  IM,  1794. 
f  Nuttall's  Alauual  of  Ornithology,  vol.  i,  pp.  631-2,  ls;!2. 


96  C.  H.  MerrUiin — JBirds  of  Connecticut. 

upwards  of  one  hundred  nests  were  found,  each  containing  one  young 
only,"*  thougli  undoubtedly  two  eggs  are  always  laid — the  one  hatch- 
ing first  and  crowding  the  other  out  of  the  nest,  Avhich  is,  at  best, 
but  a  frail  cradle,  formed  merely  "of  a  few  slender  dead  twigs,  negli- 
gently put  together,  and  with  so  little  art  that  the  concavity  appears 
scarcely  sufficient  for  the  transient  reception  of  the  young,"f  which, 
like  the  eggs,  may  readily  be  seen  from  below,  through  the  delicate 
net-work  of  twigs.  Wilson  says  it  was  dangerous  to  walk  under 
these  flying  and  fluttering  millions,  from  the  frequent  fall  of  large 
branches,  broken  down  by  the  weight  of  the  multitudes  above,  and 
which,  in  their  descent,  often  destroyed  numbers  of  the  birds  them- 
selves; while  the  clothing  of  those  engaged  in  traversing  the  Avoods 
were  completely  covered  with  the  excrements  of  the  Pigeons."  "The 
ground  was  strewed  with  broken  limbs  of  trees,  eggs,  and  young 
squab  Pigeons,  which  had  been  precipitated  from  above,  and  on 
which  herds  of  hogs  were  fattening.  Hawks,  Buzzards,  and  Eagles, 
were  sailing  about  in  great  numbers,  seizing  the  squabs  from  their 
nests  at  pleasure."^  Audubon's  description  of  a  night  passed  at  one 
of  their  roosting  places  deserves  introduction  here ;  Reaching  it 
early  in  the  afternoon,  before  the  pigeons  had  come  in,  "  many  trees 
two  feet  in  diameter"  were  observed  "broken  oft* at  no  great  distance 
from  the  ground;  and  the  branches  of  many  of  the  largest  and  tallest 
had  given  way,  as  if  the  forest  had  been  swept  by  a  tornado." 
"  Everything  proved,"  continued  Audubon,  "  that  the  number  of 
birds  resoi'ting  to  this  part  of  tlie  forest  must  be  immense  beyond 
conception.  As  the  period  of  their  arrival  approached,  their  foes 
[man]  anxiously  prepared  to  receive  them.  Some  were  furnished 
with  iron  pots  containing  sulphur,  others  with  torches  of  pine-knots, 
many  with  poles,  and  the  rest  with  guns.  The  sun  was  lost  to  our 
view,  yet  not  a  pigeon  had  arrived.  Everything  Avas  ready,  and  all 
eyes  were  gazing  on  the  clear  sky,  which  appeared  in  glimpses 
amidst  the  tall  trees.  Suddenly  there  burst  forth  a  general  cry  of 
'  here  they  come  !'  The  noise  which  they  made,  though  yet  distant, 
reminded  me  of  a  hard  gale  at  sea,  passing  through  the  rigging  of  a 
close-reefed  vessel.  As  the  birds  arrived  and  passed  over  me,  I  felt  a 
current  of  air  that  surpi'ised  me.  Thousands  weiv  soon  knocked 
down  by  the  pole  men.  The  birds  continued  to  pour  in.  The  fires 
wen-  lighted,  and  a  magnificent,  as  well  as  wonderful,  and  almost 
terrifying,  sight  presented  itself.     The  Pigeons,  arriving  by  thousands, 


*  American  Ornithology,  by  Alexander  Wilson,  vol.  ii.  pp.  295-6.    Edinburgli,  1831. 
f  Wilson,  ibid.,  pp.  295-6.  %  Nuttall,  ibid.,  p.  63:5. 


V.  If.  Men'imn — Itinfs  i>f  ( ',>innr(l,-,it.  07 

aliglitrd  everywhere,  ime  above  aiiollier,  until  solid  masses  were 
formed  on  tlie  brandies  all  aroun<l.  Here  and  there  the  perches  <;ave 
way  under  the  weight  with  a  crash,  and,  falling  to  the  <;i(>uMd,  de- 
stroyed luindreds  of  the  birds  beneath,  forcing  down  the  (K-nse  groups 
with  which  every  stick  was  loaded.  It  was  a  scene  of  u|>roar  and 
confusion.  I  found  it  (juite  useless  to  speak,  or  even  to  shout  to 
those  persons  who  were  nearest  to  me.  Even  the  re])orts  of  the  guns 
were  seldom   heard,  and   I   was   made  aware  of  llie  firing  only  bv 

seeing  the  shooters  reloading The  Pigeons  were  constantly 

coming,  and  it   was  past  midniglit  before  I  perceived  a  decrease  in 

the  number  of  those  that  arrived Towards  the  approach  of 

day  the  noise  in  some  measure  sid)sided  ;  long  before  objects  were 
distinguisliable  the  Pigeons  began  to  move  off  in  a  direction  quite 
diflerent  from  that  in  which  they  had  arrived  the  evening  before  ; 
and  at  sunrise  all  that  were  able  to  fly  liad  disappeared.  The  how  1- 
ing  of  the  wolves  now  reached  our  ears,  and  the  foxes,  lynxes,  cou- 
gars, bears,  racoons,  opossums,  and  pole-cats  were  seen  sneaking  of!*, 
whilst  Eagles  and  Hawks  of  different  species,  accompanied  by  a 
crowd  of  Vultures,  came  to  supplant  them,  and  enjoy  their  share  of 
the  spoil."  Two  farmers,  "distant  more  than  a  hundred  miles,  had 
driven  upwards  of  three  hundred  pigs  to  be  fattened  on  the  Pigeons 
which  were  to  be  slaughtered."* 

"  Audubon  attempts  to  reckon  the  number  of  Pigeons  in  one  of 
these  flocks,  and  the  daily  quantity  of  food  consumed  by  it.  lie 
takes,  as  an  example,  a  column  of  one  mile  in  breadth,  and  su})poses 
it  passing  over  us,  without  interruption,  for  three  hours,  at  the  rate 
of  one  mile  per  minute.  This  will  give  us  a  parallelogram  of  180 
miles  by  1,  averaging  180  square  miles;  and  allowing  two  Pigeons 
to  the  square  yard,  we  have  one  billion  one  hundivd  and  fifteen  mil- 
lions one  hundred  and  thirty-six  thousand  Pigeons  in  one  fiock  :  ,iii<l 
as  every  Pigeon  consumes  fully  half  a  pint  i)er  day,  the  quantity 
required  to  feed  such  a  flock  must  be  eight  millions  seven  hundred 
and  twelve  thousand  bushels  per  day  !"t 

"Indeed,  for  a  time,"  Nuttall  correctly  remarks,  "in  many  places 
nothing  scarcely  is  seen,  talked  of,  or  eaten,  but  Pigeons!" 


*  The  Birds  of  America,  by  John  James  Audubon,  vol.  v,  pp.  2',»-:!0. 
f  Wilson,  ibid,  Appendix,  vol.  iv,  p.  32:i 
Trans.  Conn.  Ac.\d.,  Vol.  IY.  13  Aug.,  1877. 


98  C  H.  Merrium — Jiirds  of  Coxtiecticut. 

172.     Zenaedura    Carolinensis    (LimiL-)    Bonaparte.  Carolina    Dove; 

"  Turtle  Dove." 

A  rather  common  summer  resident,  sometimes  remaining  through 
the  winter  (Jan.  15,  1874;  16,  1875,  Grinnell).  Arrives  early  in 
May  (May  5,  1875,  shot.  Sage).  On  May  24th,  1876,  I  found  a  nest 
containing  two  fresh  eggs,  on  a  nuijtle  sapling,  fifteen  feet  above  the 
ground.  In  the  south  and  west  they  generally,  though  by  no  means 
exclusively,  breed  on  the  ground.*  In  central  Massachnsetts  I  have 
taken  it  as  late  as  the  middle  of  November  (1873).  It  is  particularly 
abundant  throughout  the  far  west,  and  near  the  Pacific  coast  has 
been  seen  as  far  north  as  "  lat.  49'^  in  summer,  while  a  few  winter  in 
California"f  about  San  Francisco,  latitude  38°.  Mr.  StadtmuUer 
found  a  nest  of  this  species,  about  twelve  feet  from  the  ground,  in  a 
pine  grove,  near  New  Haven,  June  20th,  1874.  "It  was  close  to  the 
trunk  of  the  tree,  and  consisted  of  a  few  sticks  placed  loosely  on  top 
of  a  common  squirrel's  nest,  and  contained  one  egg  and  one  young 
dove.  I  took  the  q^^  and  four  weeks  latei'  went  to  get  the  nest,  but 
found  another  egg  in  it."J  Surely  the  squirrel's  nest  must  have  been 
deserted,  or  it  would  hardly  have  constituted  a  safe  base  for  bird's 
eggs. 

Note. — Tlie  Wild  Turkey,  Meleagris  gallopavo^  var.  Ainericana 
(Bartram)  Coues,  long  since  exterminated  from  this  State,  was  once  com- 
mon here.  Wild  Tui'kies  were  plenty  in  1 780,  and  occasionally  seen  as 
late  as  1790.§  Regarding  their  former  abundance  in  New  England, 
one  Thomas  Morton,  of  Clifford's  Inn,  Gent.,  wrote  (printed  by 
Charles  Green,  in  1632) :  "  Turkies  there  are,  which  divers  times  in 
great  flocks  have  sallied  by  our  doores ;  and  then  a  gunne  (being 
commonly  in  a  rcdinesse)  salutes  them  with  such  a  courtesie,  as  makes 
them  take  a  turne  in  the  Cooke  roome.  They  daunce  by  the  doore  so 
well.  Of  these  there  hath  bin  killed,  that  have  weighed  foi-fy-eight 
pound  a  peece.  Tliey  are  by  mainy  degrees  sweeter  than  the  tame 
Turkies  of  England,  feede  them  how  you  can,  I  had  a  salvage  who 
hath   taken   out   his    boy  in  a  morning,  and  they  have    brought  home 


*  Vide :  Coues'  Birds  of  the  Northwest,  p.  389,  1874;  Allen,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool., 
vol.  iii,  No.  6,  p.  170,  1872:  Cooper,  Ornithology  of  Cahfornia,  p.  5i:5,  1870;  Mer- 
riam,  Zool.  Report  in  Gth  Annual  Report  U.  S.  (leol.  Survey  Terr.,  p.  710,  1872;  Hen- 
shaw,  Report  upon  Ornithological  Specimens,  p.  fuS,  1874. 

\  Cooper,  Ornithology  of  California,  p.  513,  1870. 

\  MS.  notes  of  tlie  Stadtmiiller  Brothers. 

§  A  Statistical  Account  of  the  County  of  Middlesex,  in  Connecticut,  by  David  D. 
Field,  p.  19.     1819. 


C  II.  Merr!<iiii — I'.lrils  of  ('onm i-tlrut.  00 

their  loiulcs  altoiit  nooiu'.  I  have  askc.l  tlniii  wliat  immlicr  i  lic\ 
touiid  in  till'  woods,  wlio  li:n  i'  ans\vcrc(l  iicnit  iiiftaw  iia,  wliii-li  is  a 
thousand  that  day;  tho  ph'iity  oi' thoiii  is  such  in  tliosc  paits.  Thcv 
are  easily  killed  at  rooste,  because  the  one  hi'in^-  killed,  tlic  other  sit 
fast  uevertlielessi',  and  this  is  no  had  commodity."*  I .insley  savs  : 
"The  last  Wild  Turkey  tliat  I  have  known  in  Connecticut,  was  taken 
by  a  rehitive  of  mine,  about  thirty  years  since  [about  l!-!l;t],  on 
Totoket  Mountain,  in  Northtbrd.  It  was  overtaken  in  a  deep  snow, 
and  tlu'reby  outrnu.  It  weighed,  when  dressed,  twc-nty-one  ]>ounds."f 
In  1842,  Zadock  Thoni])son  wrote  that  a  few  "continue  still  to  visit 
and  breed  upon  the  mountains  in  the  southern  part  of  the  Stale"' 
(Vermont).]:  As  kite  as  1888  it  was  "  frequently  met  with  on  Mt. 
Ilolyoke,"  but  had  "  become  scarce  and  nearly  extinct"  in  other  parts 
of  the  State.§  Professor  Wm.  I).  Wliitney  once  nu:)unted  a  fine 
specimen  of  the  Wild  Turkey  killed  on  Mt.  Tom,  Mass.,  Nov.  1st, 
1847.  It  may  now  be  seen  in  the  beautiful  case  of  birds  given  1)y 
Prof.  Whitney  to  the  Peabody  Museum  of  Yale  College,  and  is  of 
particular  value  as  being,  in  all  probability,  the  last  of  its  race  seen 
in  that  State.  In  the  month  of  October,  "  the  Turkey  Moon  of  the 
aborigines,"  they  used  to  wander  far  and  wide  in  quest  of  food,  fre- 
quently assembling  in  vast  numbers  in  districts  where  there  was  an 
abundance.  Audubon  tells  us  that  "  When  they  come  U])on  a  river, 
they  betake  themselves  to  the  highest  eminences,  and  there  often 
remain  a  whole  day,  or  sometimes  two,  as  if  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
sultation. During  this  time  the  males  are  heard  gobling,  calling,  and 
making  much  ado,  and  are  seen  sti'utting  about,  as  if  to  raise  their 
courage  to  a  pitch  befitting  the  emergency.  Even  the  females  and 
young  assume  something  of  the  same  pompous  demeanor,  sj)read  out 
their  tails,  and  run  round  each  other,  pvrring  loudly,  and  ])erforming 
extravagant  leaps.  At  length,  when  the  weather  appears  settled, 
and  all  round  is  quiet,  the  whole  i)arty  mount  to  the  tops  of  the 
highest  trees,  Avhence,  at  a  signal,  consisting  of  a  single  c'/w/.-,  given 
by  a  leader,  the  flock  takes  flight  for  the  opposite  shore."|| 

Josselyn  says  "their  eggs  are  very  wholesome  and  restore  decayed 
nature  exceedingly. "•[ 


*  Reprinted  in  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  Tract  5,  p.  48. 
t  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2,  p.  2fi4.    April,  184.-?. 
X  History  of  Vermont,  Natural,  Civil,  and  Statistical.     By  Z.  Thompson.  ]>.  1  u  1 .   1  S4'J. 
§  See  Hitchcock's  Report,  p.  549.     18:53. 
II  Auduhon's  Birds  of  America,  vol.  v,  p.  43. 
^Two  Voyages  to  Now  Rnoland.  p.  99.     HH.'). 


100  G.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Co]inecticut. 

Family,  TETRAONID^]. 

173.  Bonasa  umbellus  (Linn6)  Stephens.         Ruffed  Grouse. 

A  common  resident.  Breeds  on  both  East  and  West  Rock,  near 
New  HaA^en,  as  well  as  throughoiit  the  State.  In  May,  18V7,  Prof. 
Verrill  found  a  nest,  containing-  twelve  eggs,  within  ten  feet  of  a 
traveled  road,  near  the  city.  In  the  vicinity  of  Eastharapton,  Mass., 
they  were  particularly  abundant,  and  on  one  occasion  I  frightened 
one  off  from  an  apple  tree  directly  behind  the  "Town  Hall."  Large 
numbers  of  them  are  caught  in  snares  eveiy  fall,  and  the  market  is 
well  supplied  with  native  birds.  Of  it,  in  1632,  Morton  wrote : 
"  Partridges,  there  are  much,  like  our  Partridges  of  England,  they 
are  of  the  same  plumes,  but  bigger  in  body.  They  have  not  the 
signe  of  the  horseshoe-shoe  on  the  breast  as  the  Partridges  of  Eng- 
land ;  nor  are  they  coloured  about  the  heads  as  those  are;  they  sit  on 
the  trees.  For  I  have  scene  40.  in  one  tree  at  a  time;  yet  at  night 
they  fall  on  the  ground,  and  sit  until  morning  so  together ;  and  are 
dainty  flesh."* 

174.  Ortyx  VirginiantlS  (Linne)  Bonaparte.         Quail;  Bob  White. 

A  common  resident,  breeding  in  thick  brushwood  at  South  End 
and  many  other  places  near  New  Haven. 

This  species  also  attracted  Morton's  attention,  for  he  says:  "There 
are  quailes  also,  but  bigger  then  the  quailes  in  England.  They  take 
trees  also  :  for  I  have  numbered  60.  Uj)on  a  tree  at  a  time.  The  cocks 
doe  call  at  the  time  of  the  yeare,  but  with  a  different  note  from  the 
cock  quailes  of  England."* 

Note. — The  Prairie  Chicken,  or  Pinnated  Grouse,  Cupidonia 
cupido  (Liime)  Baird,  was  formerly  a  resident  of  New  England,  but, 
like  the  Wild  Turkey,  was  exterminated  many  years  ago — at  least  so 
far  as  the  main  land  is  concerned,  foi-  it  is  said  tliat  a  few"  still  exist 
on  some  of  the  islands  south  of  Cape  Cod  (Naushon  for  exani])le, 
and  perhaps  Martha's  Vineyard).  However,  it  is  pretty  certain  that 
many  years  have  elapsed  since  the  last  "wild  chicken"  was  seen  in 
Connecticut-,  for  even  Linsley,  in  1842,  gave  it  as  a  bird  of  the  past. 
Nuttall,  ten  years  earlier  (in  18;)2),  said  that  they  were  still  met  Avith 
"  on  tlie  brushy  plains  of  J^ong  Island,  (/>/(/  in  similar  shruhbi/  Ixtrrens 


*  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  vol.  ii,  Tract  5,  p.  48. 


C  II.  Jferriiim — />/n/s  <>/  ('oinn'ctiriit.  loi 

in  Westfonl,  ('oiniccticHf.'"'*  TIkiI  our  anci'slors  w ci'c  IuimI  ..I  ■■  t'l.wl- 
iuii","  nixl  tIi:U  it  soiiu'tiincs  cost  thoin  llicir  lives,  iniiy  Im'  seen  iVum 
tlie  following:  lii  OctoLiT,  10:^0,  one  "  Josc'|)li  Tilly,  niaslci-  i>\'  -a  li;irk, 
came  to  anchor  nearly  o])|)osit('  Calve's  Island,  and  lakintj,  one  man 
with  liini,  went  on  shore  for  the  ])ur|iose  of  fowlinij,'.  As  soon  as  la- 
had  discharged  his  piece,  a  large  nuniher  of  Ti'ijuots,  rising  ironi  tlu-ir 
conceahnent,  took  him  and  killed  his  companion  ;  and  then  uratilicd 
their  malice  hy  ])utting  him  to  torture,  'riiey  lirst  cut  oil"  liis  hands 
and  then  his  feet;  after  wliich  lie  lived  three  days.  But  as  nothing 
which  they  inflicted  upon  him  excited  a  groan,  they  pronounced  him  a 
stout  man."f  And  tliis  occiirred  in  the  town  of  Saybrook,  Conn.,  at 
a  time  when  many  of  our  forefathers  perished  at  the  liands  of  the 
Indians,  before  bringing  them  to  submission.  One  Thomas  Morton, 
writing  in  1032,  speaks  of  the  presence  of  this  bird  in  New  England 
in  the  following  language:  "  There  are  a  kinde  of  fowles  which  are 
commonly  called  Pheisants,  but  whether  they  be  pheysaiits  or  no,  I 
will  not  take  upon  mee,  to  determine.  They  are  in  form  like  our 
pheisant-henne  of  England.  Both  the  male  and  the  female  are  alike  ; 
but  they  are  rough  footed :  and  have  stareing  feathers  about  the 
head  and  neck,  the  body  is  as  bigg  as  the  pheysant-henne  of  Eng- 
land ;  and  ai'e  excellent  white  flesh,  and  delicate  white  meate,  yet  we 
seldom  bestowe  a  shoot  at  them."J  The  "  white  flesh"  must  have 
been  a  mistake  unless  he  referred  to  the  Ruffed  (4rouse  which  is 
immediately  spoken  of  under  the  name  of  "  I'artridge."  Nuttall 
says  of  its  habits  :  "  The  season  tor  pairing  is  early  in  the  sj)riiig,  in 
March  or  April.  At  this  time  the  behavior  of  the  male  becomes 
remarkable.  Early  in  the  morning  he  comes  forth  from  his  bushy 
roost,  and  struts  about  with  a  curving  neck,  raising  his  ruff",  exj)and- 
ino;  his  tail  like  a  fan,  and  seeming  to  mimic  the  ostentation  of  the 
Turkey.  He  now  seeks  out  or  meets  his  rival,  and  several  paiis  at  a 
time,  as  soon  as  they  l)ecome  visible  through  the  dusky  dawn,  arc 
seen  preparing  for  combat."§ 

♦Manual  of  Ornithology,  vol.  i,  p.  662.     1832. 

f  A  Statistical  Account  of  the  f!ounty  of  Middlesex,  in  Couiiectiout.     By  David  D. 
Field,  p.  36.     1819. 

\  Force'.?  Historical  Tracts,  vol.  ii.  Tract  5,  p.  48. 

§  Nuttall's  Manual  of  Ornitliolo^y,  vol.  i,  pp.  (;(;:i-04.      18:!2. 


102  C.  II.  Merrhirti — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

Family,  CHARADRIID^. 

175.  Squatarola  helvetica  (Linne)  Bielim.         Black-bellied  Plover. 
Occurs  during  the  migrations.     Taken    at   Sti-atlord   l)y   Linsley. 

Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  has  a  splendid  specimen  of  this  bird,  taken  in  fall,  on 
the  Sound  near  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut.  Dr.  F.  W.  Hall  sliot 
several  specimens  about  tlie  middle  of  October  (Oct.  18,  1873),  and 
tells  me  that  they  were  remarkably  tame. 

176.  Charadrius  fulvus,  var.   VirginicUS  (Bork.)    Coues.  Golden 

Plover. 

Common  during  migrations.  Capt.  Brooks  informs  me  that  they 
are  "  plenty  at  (Guilford,  Conn.,  in  spring  aud  early  fall,"  and  that 
"  sometimes  a  few  stop  in  the  fall  and  stay  a  few  days"  at  Faulkner's 
Island.  Linsley  found  it  at  Stratford.  Mr.  Coe  has  taken  it  as  far 
inland  as  Portland,  Conn.,  on  the  river. 

177.  -<3Egialitis    VOCifera  (Linne)  Bonaparte.         Killdeer  Plover. 

A  summer  resident,  but  not  very  common.  It  generally  arrives 
late  in  March  (Feb.  24,  1875,  plenty  by  last  of  March  ;  Ajiril  5,  1872  ; 
Portland,  Conn.,  W.  VV.  Coe).  Mr.  Coe  informs  me  that  it  breeds  on 
Plumb  Island,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Portland,  Conn.,  where  it  used 
to  be  very  common. 

178.  .^gialitis  Wilsonia  (Ord)  Cassin.         Wilson's  Plover. 

Not  common.  Linsley  took  it  at  Stratford.  It  has  also  been  taken 
on  Long  Island  ((4iraud),  but  seldom  strays  so  far  North. 

179.  ^gialitis  Semipalmata  (Bonap.)  Calmnis.  Scmipalmated  Plover. 

A  common  migrant.  Arrives  about,  or  before,  the  middle  of  May 
(May  17,  1876,  Osborne).  During  the  latter  part  of  May,  and  first 
of  June,  they  may  be  seen,  in  small  flocks,  running  along  the  beach, 
in  search  of  food,  as  the  tide  goes  out.  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  writes  me 
that  he  has  taken  it  at  Portland,  Conn,,  tAventy-Hve  miles  from  the 
Sound. 

180.  .iEgialitis    meloda  (Wilson)  Bonaparte.  Piping  Plover ;  Ringneck. 

A  summer  resident.  Linsley  found  it  breeding  at  Stratford.  Mr. 
.1.  N.  (/lark  also  finds  it  breeding  at  Saybrook,  Comi.,  and  Mr.  AV.  W. 
Coe  has  taken  it  at  I*ortlan<l. 


C.  II.  Merrlam — />/'/•</.'<  <>/  ('imntiticKt. 


103 


Family,  H^MATOPODID^. 

181.  HsematopUS  palliatUS   ToimniiKk.         Oyster-iMU'lur. 

A  laic  miiirniit.  Linslcy  snys :  "TIu-  ()\  stcr-c:ilcliri-  is  idu  r:iic 
ln'iv,  l)iit  filU'c'ii  years  siiici'  tliry  witc  not  \v\\  iiiicoiiiiih'ii  in 
autumn.''''"^' 

1 82.  Strepsilas  interpres   (Linne)  Illiger.         Turnstone. 

A  common  migrant.  Linsley  gave  it  from  Stiatfonl,  and  ('apt. 
Brooks  writes  me  that  it  is  "•  (juite  common  in  spring  and  lall"  aluuit 
Faulkner's  Island,  Coim.  .Mr.  Sage,  of  Portland,  lias  a  beaiililul  male, 
which  he  killed  at  WestLrook,  Conn.,  May  2;kl,  1877.  In  Tall  it 
returns  during  the  latter  part  ol  August  (Aug.  31,  1874,  F.  W.  Hall). 

Family,  RECURVIROSTRID^. 

183.  Recurvirostra  Americana  Gmeiin.       Avocet. 

A  rather  rare  migrant.  Josiah  G.  Ely,  Esq.,  writes  me  that  he  has 
seen  but  one  specimen  of  the  Avocet  taken  on  our  coast.  "  It  was 
caught,  in  1871,  between  Saybrook  and  East  Lyme,  in  an  old  seine 
strung  out  on  the  beach  to  dry,"  and  was  kept  alive  for  some  time  by 
a  storekeeper. 

Family,  PHALAROPODID^. 

1 84.  Steganopus  "Wilson!  (Sabine)  Coues.         Wilson's  Phalarope. 

Of  rare  and  almost  accidental  occurrence  in  New  England,  though 
common  throughout  the  West.  Linsley  says  of  it :  "  Wilson's  Pha- 
larope 1  have  in  my  cabinet;  it  was  killed  in  Bridgeport  [Conn.]  and 
sent  to  me  by  a  friend,  and  is  probably  one  of  the  rarest  birds  in  New 
England.  It  is  not  only  beautiful,  but  the  great  quantity  of  plumage 
on  a  bird  so  small  and  delicate,  together  with  his  unique  bill,  seems 
to  render  it  one  of  the  most  peculiar  of  this  class  of  animals.''t 

1 85.  PhalaropUS  fulicariuS  (Linne)  Bonaparte.         l^cd  Plialarope. 

A  rare  visitor  from  the  North.  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  has  a  specimen  in 
his  cabinet,  killed  at  Portland,  Conn.,  in  September. 

*  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2,  p.  2G5.     April,  184.-?.         f  ^P-  c't-.  P-  26.S. 


104  C.  H.  Merriata — Birds  of  Coinectlcut. 

Family,   SCOLOPACID^:. 

1 86.  Philohela  minor  (Gmelin)  Gray.         Woodcock. 

A  resident ;  common  from  early  spring  till  November.  A  tew 
commonly,  if  not  regularly,  winter  in  low  swamps.  They  arrive  early 
in  March  ("Mar.  8,  1877,  Middletown,  Conn.,  killed  by  flying  against 
a  telegraph  wire"*),  and  breed  very  early.  On  the  3d  of  April,  1877, 
mv  young  friend,  Walter  R.  Nichols,  found,  near  Branford,  Conn.,  a 
nest  containing  four  fresh  eggs.  They  may  breed  twice,  for  Mr. 
Nichols  found  a  second  nest,  in  the  same  locality,  and  containing  the 
same  number  of  eggs,  as  late  as  July  20th,  1877.  The  eggs  were 
partially  incubated,  and  the  old  bird  was  shot  as  she  left  the  nest. 
Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  writes  that  he  found  one,  near  Portland,  Conn.,  April 
12,  1872,  also  containing  four  eggs:  "The  nest  was  on  a  bog,  in  the 
middle  of  a  brook  which  ran  through  a  swamp.  It  was  not  more  than 
six  inches  above  the  water.  The  grass  was  short,  aiid  there  were  no 
bushes  near,  so  that  it  was  very  much  exposed,  but  still  hard  to  And, 
for,  although  we  had  hunted  the  ground  over  carefully,  the  old  bird 
did  not  fly  oft"  until  my  man  stepped  on  the  bog.  I  had  my  old  dog 
Dincks  with  me,  and  his  nose  is  first  class,  and  yet  he  passed  within 
a  foot  of  her  several  times  without  scenting  her,  which  satisfies  me 
that  a  bird  sitting  on  her  eggs  gives  out  no  scent,  for  this  is  not  the 
first  time  I  have  tried  it.  The  nest  was  simply  a  shallow  hole  scraped 
in  the  top  of  the  bog ;  there  was  a  little  coarse  grass,  a  few  leaves,  and 
one  or  two  of  the  Woodcock's  feathers  in  it."f  Mr.  John  H.  Sage 
tells  me  that,  while  collecting  with  iMr.  W.  W.  Coe  near  Portland, 
Conn.,  May  80th,  1874,  they  flushed  a  Woodcock  with  young,  one  of 
which  she  carried  ofl*  in  her  claws  !  and  Mr.  Coe  writes  me,  "  in  regard 
to  the  Woodcock  carrying  off"  its  young :  Mr.  Sage  and  I  were  not 
four  feet  apart  when  the  old  bird  got  up  between  us,  rose  about  thi-ee 
feet,  and  then  dove  down  again  and  picked  up  a  young  bird  Avith  her 
feet,  and,  with  her  tail  spread  and  held  forward  under  the  young, 
carried  it  off  about  eight  rods,  and  came  back  for  the  others,  but  my 
boy  frightened  her  away." 

Thomas  Morton,  in  1632,  thus  alluded  to  the  resemblance  between 
our  l)ird  and  the  Ya\\'o\)C'a\\V^ oodidock  {Scolopaxrusticola) '.  "  Simpes, 
there  are  like  our  Sim[)es  in  all  respects,  with  very  little  difference. 
I  have  shot  at  them  onely,  to  see  what  diftl-rence  I  could  finde  be- 


*  MS.  notes  of  John  11.  Sage.  f  MS.  notes  of  W.  W.  Coe. 


C.  IF.  MerviiDii — lilnis  <>f  (\>inii  rth-ut.  105 

twot'ue  thc'iu  and   tluisc  of  my  native  couiitiv,  ami   nmif   I   iliil   not 
regard  them."* 

187.  G-allinagO  Wilsoni  (Tcniininck)  Bonaparte,         Wilson's  Snipe. 

A  resident;  eoninion  dnring-  the  migi-ations ;  soinetinies  hret'<ls. 
In  October  and  November  (some  remain  into  December)  lari;-e  num- 
bers are  sliot  on  our  sah  marshes.  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  took  it  I-'eb.  4(h, 
1872,  near  Porthmd,  Conn.,  and  thinks  they  sometimes  winter  tlu-re  in 
low  swampy  phrces.  Arrives  in  ^larcli  (Mar.  18,  1874,  Sage).  Mr.  W. 
W.  Coe  and  Mr.  J.  H.  Sage  inform  me  that  they  took  a  nest  containing 
three  fresh  eggs  of  this  species  at  Porthmd,  Conn.,  May  13tli,  1S74. 
The  eggs  were  "fully  identified,  as  the  i)arent  bird  was  Immd  on  tlie 
iiest."f  It  was  not  previously  known  to  breed  as  far  south  as  Con- 
necticut. The  nearest  approach  to  it  is  "  a  set  of  eggs  in  the  Smithson- 
ian labeled  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y."J  Mr.  Coe  tells  me  that  there  were  a 
number  of  Snipe  in  the  field  at  the  time,  and  he  tliinks  there  were 
other  nests  which  they  did  not  find. 

188.  Macrorhamphus  griseus  {Gmdin)  I.oacli.         Red-breasted  Snipe. 

Not  rare  during  the  migrations.  "Stratford,"  Linsley.  Mr.  J.  II. 
Sage  of  Portland  has  a  specimen  which  he  shot  at  Saybrook,  Conn., 
Aug.  21st,  1874. 

189.  Erennetes  pusillus  (Llunt')  Casslu.         Semipahnated  Sandpiper. 

A  summer  resident;  common  along  the  shore  during  the  migrations. 
Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  has  seen  it  in  June.  On  the  20th  of  July,  1877,  ."Mr. 
Walter  R.  Nichols  found,  at  Branford,  Conn.,  four  eggs  of  a  small 
Sandpiper.  They  were  placed  on  a  few  straws  in  a  slight  excavation 
in  a  corn  field,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  shore.  Supposing  them  to 
be  the  eggs  of  this  species  I  sent  one  to  Dr.  Brewer,  who  writes:  "  In 
the  absence  of  my  cabinet,  for  comparison,  I  cannot  be  certain,  but  I 
have  little  or  no  doubt  that  it  is  the  egg  of  Ereunetes  pi/silli/s.''  It 
is  unnecessary  to  state  that  this  is  the  first  authentie  reconl  of  its 
breeding  in  southern  New  England.  In  fall,  Dr.  F.  W.  Hall  has  taken 
it  as  early  as  Aug.  25th  (1874). 

*  Reprinted  in  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  vol.  ii,  Tract  5,  p.  47. 
f  MS.  notes  of  John  H.  Sage,  Esq. 
X  Coues'  Birds  of  the  Northwest,  p.  47 G. 
Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Vol.  IV.  14  Aug.,  1877. 


106  C.  H.  Merrlmn — Jilrds  of  Connecticut. 

1  90.  Tringa  minutilla  Vieillot.         Least  Sandpiper. 

A  coiiiinoii  uiigraiit.  INIai'itime.  Found  along  the  shore  in  ^lay 
and  early  June,  and  again  in  August  and  September. 

191.  Tringa  maculata  Vieillot.         Pectoral  Sandpiper ;  Jack  Snipe. 

Common  during  migrations.  Mr.  Coe  tells  me  that  it  is  common 
in  fall  as  fai-  u])  the  Connecticut  as  Middletown.  Arrives  from  the 
north  early  in  August  (Aug.  6,  1873,  Hall). 

192.  Tringa   fuscicollis  Yieillot.         Bonaparte's  Sandpiper;  White-rumped 

Sandpiper. 

Not  rare  during  migratious,  though  Linsley  took  only  two  speci- 
mens at  Stratford,  Conn.  Dr.  Hall  has  taken  it  late  in  August  (Aug. 
31,  1874). 

193.  Tringa  maritima  Brunnich.         Purple  Sandpiper. 

Not  uncommon  during  the  migrations.  Many  winter  on  the  islands 
along  the  coast.  Not  found  by  Linsley.  Captain  Brooks  writes  me 
from  Faulkner's  Island  that  "  Purple  Sand})ipers  come  here  in  early 
fall  and  stay  till  spring,"  and  that  they  are  common  and  get  to  be 
quite  tame, 

194.  Tringa  alpina,  var.  Americana  Cassiu.       Dunlin;  "Ox-Bird." 
A  common  migrant ;  a  few  may  winter. 

195.  Tringa  SUbarquata  (Guld)  Temmlnck.         Curlew  Sandpiper. 

A  rare  visitor  along  our  coast.  Mr.  Josiah  G.  Ely  writes  me  that 
one  was  shot  near  Saybrook,  Conn.,  some  time  ago,  and  I  am  infoimed 
by  Dr.  D.  Crary,  of  Hartford,  that  a  s])ecimen  of  this  species  was 
killed,  Oct.  3d,  1859,  at  Keeny's  Cove,  on  the  Connecticut  l\iver,  in 
East  Hartford  (Hockanum),  Conn.  Also,  Dr.  E.  L.  II.  Thompson,  t)f 
this  city,  tells  me  that  he  shot  three  Cui-lew  Sand|)i})ers  on  the  Qnin- 
nipiac  River  (near  New  Haven)  in  June,  1874.  Dr.  Wm.  O.  Ayres, 
now  of  Easthampton,  Long  Island,  writes  me  that  he  '"killed  it  once 
at  Miller's  Place,  L.  I.,  in  1839,"*  and  it  has  also  been  taken  in  Mas- 
sachusetts.f 

*  See  also  Girnud's  Birds  of  Long  Island,  1 84  k 

f  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  New  England.     By  T.  M.  Brewer,  p.  13.     1875. 


C.   If.  Mcrriiuii — liirds  of  <  'ojuHftlrKf. 


107 


196.  Tringa  CanutUS    Liiin.-.  Rc(l-l,ro,',sk..l  .S;.iuli.i|.t'r;    Knot. 
C'oiiiinon    liming    mi-irations.      Taken    at    Sayhiook,  by    Mr.    Sagr, 

Aug.  21st,  1874;  and  JNlr.   Coc   tells   nie   that    it    is    lum,.!    aLont    tlie 
Connecticut  Kivor,  near  JMiddletow  ii,  in  snininer. 

Note. — The  Stilt  Sandpiiier,  MIcropahaiHi  hinninto/nis  (|',(.na|..) 
Baird  ;  and  Baird's  Sandpiper,  Triii(/((  Jinlnlii  Cones,  donlttless 
occur  along  the  coast  during  niigrntions. 

197.  Calidris  arenaria  (Linm')  Illiger.         Sanderling. 

Oecurs  during  migrations,  and  is  extremely  ahnndant  in  lull.  Kins- 
ley took  it  at  Stratford.  jMr.  Grinnell  informs  nie  that  they  arrive 
during  the  latter  ])art  of  September,  remaining  late  into  October. 
Thomas  Morton  wrote  of  them  in  1632  :  "Sanderlings  are  dainty  bird, 
more  full  bodied  than  a  Snipe,  and  I  was  much  delighted  to  feede 
on  them,  because  they  were  fatt,  and  easie  to  come  by,  because  I 
went  but  a  stepp  or  to  for  them :  and  I  have  killed  betweene  foure 
and  five  dozen  at  a  shoot  which  would  lead  me  home.  Their  foode  is 
at  ebbing  water  on  the  sands,  of  small  seeds,  that  grows  on  weeds 
there,  and  are  very  good  pastime  in  August."* 

1  98.   LimOSa  fedoa  (Linm-)  Ord.         Great  itarljled  Godwit. 

A  rare  migrant.  Linsley  found  it  at  Stratford,  Ciinn.,  in  August, 
1842,  "in  large  flocks,  but  very  shy."f  Nearly  an  hundred  years  ago, 
Thomas  Pennant,  in  his  Arctic  Zoology,  stated  that  "it  inhabits 
Hudson's  Bay  and  Connecticut.''^ 

199.  Liimosa  HudSOnica  (Latham)  Swainson.     Hiidsonian  Godwit. 

A  rare  migrant.  Taken  at  Stratford  by  Linsley.  Coues  suggests 
that  the  LImosa  Edicardsii  ?  of  Linsley  (p.  267)  is  "i)erhaps  an 
albino "§  of  this  species,  but  I'ennant  thought  it  was  the  Avocet 
[Recw'virostra  Anierican<i).l  The  good  old  ])reaelier  (Linsley),  in 
speaking  of  these  birds,  could  not  take  his  Lord's  name  in  vain  on  s.> 
slight  a  provocation— hence  he  called  them  " 6-'oo(Avits." 


*  New  English  Canaan,  p.  47,  16^2.     Reprinted  in  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  vol.  ii, 
Tract  5. 

f  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2,  p.  2G7,  1843. 

X  Arctic  Zoology,  vol.  ii,  p.  465,  1785. 

§  List  of  the  Birds  of  New  England,  p.  18,  18(18. 

II  Arctic  Zoology,  vol.  ii,  p.  502,  1785. 


108  C.  IT.  Merriaiii — JlirJs  of  Connectioid. 

200.  TotanuS  SemipalmatUS  (Gmeliu)  Temminck.         Willet;  Tattler. 

A  summer  resident ;  not  common.  Linsley  found  it  breeding  at 
Stratford,  Conn.  Mr.  Grinnell  has  taken  it,  near  JNIilford,  late  in  the 
summer,  and  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  took  a  nest,  containing  three  eggs,  at 
Madison,  Conn.,  June  5th,  1873.* 

201.  TotailTlS  melanoleuCUS  (Graelin)  Vieillot.         Greater  Yellow-legs. 

Common  during  migrations.  Arrives  in  INfay  (May  1-t,  1874,  Sage), 
remaining  till  June  (June  1,  1877,  Sage).  P\)und  botli  coastwise  and 
in  the  interior.  I  first  became  acquainted  Avith  it  at  Yellowstone 
Lake,  where  I  killed  four  at  one  shot,  Aug.  23d,  1872, 

202.  TotanuS  flavipes  (Gmelin)  Vieillot.         Lesser  Yellow-legs. 

A  common  migrant.  Killed  one  May  7th,  1877,  on  a  fresh  water 
pond  near  Meriden,  Conn.  Returns  about  tlie  middle  of  August 
(Aug.  17,  1874,  Hall). 

Note. — Totanus  Chloropus  Nllsson.         Green-shanlis. 

Linsley  states  that  a  specimen  of  this  rare  straggler  was  taken  at 
Stratfoi-d,  Conn.,  in  the  autumn  of  1842.f  This  is,  so  far  as  T  am 
aware,  the  only  recorded  instance  of  its  captiire  north  of  Florida 
(Audubon  shot  three  on  Land  Key,  Fla.,  May  28,  1832), J  where  its 
occurrence  seems  to  be  purely  accidental,  its  proper  home  being  in 
the  "Old  World;"  and  since  Dr.  Cones  states  that  it  was  given  by 
Linsley  "  very  possibly  through  an  erroneous  identifiication,"§  I  do 
not  feel  justified  in  including  it  among  the  species  ascertained  to 
occur  within  our  limits. 

203.  Totanus  SOlitariuS  (Wilson)  Audubon.         Solitary  Tattler. 
Common  during  the  migrations.     Arrives  early  in   May  (jNIay  2, 

1877),  frequenting  muddy  ))onds  and  sluggish  streams,  in  small  flocks 
of  about  half  a  dozen.  Solitary  individuals  may  be  seen  as  late  as 
early  June,  (C'oe;  June  10,  Grinnell). 

204.  Tringoides  macularius  (I.inne)^Gray.         Spotted  Sandpiper. 

A  common  summer  j-esident,  arriving  during  the  latter  part  of 
April  or  first  of  ]\Iay  (May  1,   1874,  Sage).     I  once  found  its  nest 

*  MS.  notes  of  W.  W.  Coe,  Esq. 

f  Am.  Jour.  vSoi.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2   p.  20(1.  isi;!. 
t  Audubon's  Hirds  of  North  America,  vol.  v,  p.  .'!21. 
Proceed.  Essex  Inst.,  vol.  v,  p.  296,  1868. 


('.  71.  JIcrriKjit — liirifs  of  ( 'oiiin  ctii'iit.  luti 

within  i'iy;lit  \'vv\  ol";!  niilroad  track  wlirrc  trains  |(assc.|  v\vv\  limir 
ofthc  (lay  !  lUanains  into  October  (Oct.  (i,  is;  I),  l-'numl  ulicnvir 
there  is  a  pond  or  small  stn-ani. 

205.  ActiturUS    BartramiuS   (Wilson)    Bonap.  Bartiainian    SaiKli.iper ; 

"Upland  Plover." 

A  coninion  sntnnicr  resident.  l>reeds  in  open  tieMs  away  from 
water.  I  am  informed  by  Mr.  C'oe  that  lariic  nund)ers  of  tlieni  l>reed 
on  Plnm  Island,  ott'  New  London,  Comi.  .Virivcs  aliout  y\:\\  1st 
(May  2,  1874,  Porthmd,  Conn.,  Sage). 

206.  Tryngites  rufescens  (ViciUdt)  Calmnis.         HulT-breasted  Sandpiper. 

Occurs  durino-  the  migrations,  but  is  not  common.  .losiah  (i.  Klv, 
Esq.,  writes  me  that  two  were  killed  near  Saybrook,  a  few  years  ag«», 
and  Dr.  Dauiel  Crary  had  one  in  his  collection  which  "  w.as  shot  near 
Hartford  some  years  ago." 

207.  Numenius  longirOStris  Wilson.         Lono-l)illed  Curlew. 

Not  particularly  rare  during  migrations,  but  excessively  shy. 
Linsley  took  it  at  Stratford,  Conu.  Regarding  its  occurrence  near 
Faulkner's  Island,  Coim.,  Capt.  Brooks  writes  :  "  Not  plenty  ;  occa- 
sionally one  stops  here  in  the  fall."  It  was  seen  at  ]Milibrd,  Conn., 
by  Mr.  Grinnell,  during  the  summer  of  1873.  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark,  of 
Saybrook,  Conn.,  tells  me  that  it  sometimes  occurs  X\\vvv  in  the  fall, 
but  is  rare.  Dr.  Crary  tells  me  that  it  has  l)een  taken  near  Hartford, 
Conn. 

208.  Numenius  HtldsOnicUS  Latham.         Hndsonian  Curlew. 

A  rare  migrant.  Taken  at  Stratford,  Conn.,  by  Linsley.  I  am 
informed  by  Dr.  Crary,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  that  it  has  been  killed  in 
that  vicinity.  LTnder  date  of  "July  20,  1877,"  the  Rev.  J.  Howanl 
Hand  writes  me,  from  Southamjiton,  Long  Island:  "Have  just  taken 
three  sjiecimens  of  the  Hudsonian  Curlew  this  morning." 

209.  Numenius  borealis  (Forster)  Latham.         E.-^kimo  Curlew. 

Not  common.  Occurs  during  migration.  Taken  at  Stratl()rd, 
Conn.,  by  Linsley.  ]\Ir.  J.  N.  Clark  has  a  line  mounted  specimen  in 
his  cabinet,  killed  at  Saybrook,  Conn.,  Oct.  13,  1874. 


no  (J.  H.  Merriain — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

Family,  TANTALIDAE. 

210.  Ibis  falcinellus,  var.  Ordii  (Bonaparte)  Cones.         Glossy  Ibis. 

A  rare  accidental  visitor  from  tlie  South.  At  Stratford,  Conn.,  Lins- 
ley  o1)tained  five  specimens  of  this  species.*  Stragglers  have  also 
been  taken  in  Mnssachn setts.  There  is  a  specimen  of  this  species  in 
the  Museum  of  Wesleyan  University,  at  Middletown,  Conn.,  taken  in 
that  vicinity,  by  Dr.  Barrat  about  the  year  1855. 

211.  Ibis  alba  (Linne)  Vieillot.         White  Ibis. 

One  only  recorded  from  New  England.  It  was  seen  by  Mr.  Geo. 
Bird  Griimell  within  ten  miles  of  New  Haven  :  "Late  in  tlie  after- 
noon of  May  28,  [1875]  I  observed  near  Milford,  Conn.,  a  specimen  of 
Ibis  alba.  I  recognized  the  bird  as  it  fiew  over  me,  and  following- 
it  to  a  small  pond  whei'e  it  went  down,  discovered  it  perched  upon  a 
tree  over  the  water.  I  carefully  examined  it  with  a  good  glass,  at  a 
distance  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards,  and  by  this  means  was 
enabled  to  note  every  detail  of  form  and  color.  It  was  in  full  jdum- 
age,  the  white  being  pure,  and  the  naked  skin  about  the  head,  bright 
red.  After  watching  it  for  a  few  moments  I  tried  to  approach  it, 
but  before  I  came  within  gunshot  it  flew,  uttering  a  hoarse  cackle  as 
it  went  ott"."f     Two  specimens  have  been  killed  on  Long  Island.J 

Family,  ARDEID^. 

212.  Ardea  herodias  Linne.         Great  Blue  Heron. 

A  summer  resident.  Common  during  the  migrations.  Arrives 
before  the  middle  of  April  (A])r.  4,  1873,  Coe;  12,  Sage),  and  I 
have  seen  it  as  late  as  Nov.  2()t]i  (1875),  along  the  coast.  On  Ajiril 
17th,  1877,  Mr.  A.  J.  Dayan  and  I  saw  about  a  dozen  oT  these 
splendid  birds  on  the  Whitney  Lakes,  within  a  couple  of  miles  of 
New  Haven,  but  they  were  very  sliy  and  remained  only  a  few  d.ays. 
Mr.  (4rinnell  once  saw  a  flock  of  twenty-eight  flying  over  the  Sound. 
Mr.  W.  P.  Nichols  saw  one  near  New  Haven,  June  2d,  1877. 


*  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2,  p.  266,  1843. 

f  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  ix,  No.  8,  p.  470,  1875. 

X  Giraud's  Bird's  of  Long  Island,  p.  275,  1844. 


C.    If.   MiiU-iiliii — liirils  iif  (',  luiii-liriif.  1  I  1 

213.  Ardea  egretta  (Cinclin)  Omy.  Crent  White  Kjrict. 

A  raiv  visitor  IVoiii  tlic  Soiitli.  Si'\ci-mI  s|.ccimciis  Ikivc  l.ccii  t;ikfii 
ill  Massacliiisetts,  ainl  I  liavc  myself  seen  il  at  llic  "()\  r.nw"  .m  ilic 
C'oniiocticut.  A  spcH-iineu  was  sliot  iicai'  .Mi.icilcinwn,  ('..nn.,  s..iiic 
years  au'o,  and  is  now  in  the  Musi-iun  of  WcsK  yan  I'liixcr-ilv.  Mr. 
(IrinncU  has  seen  it  on  iIk"  niarslu's  near  Milfonl,  Coini.,  in  Scpicni- 
l)i'r.  Dr.  Wood  tells  me  tliat,  several  years  a<;-o,  mie  spent  a  week 
on  a  marsli  near  East  Windsor  Hill,  Conn.  ]Mr.  Fred.  Smniier 
Smith  tells  me  that  he  saw  a  )>air  of  these  birds  at  Lake  Saltoiistall 
(near  New  Ifaveu),  Conn.,  diirint;-  tli.'  latter  ])arl  of  .Inly,  isTii,  and 
two  weeks  later,  at  the  same  place,  saw  no  less  than  seven  in<lividu- 
als  feeding  together.  They  were  exceedingly  shy  and  he  I'ould  not 
approach  within  gunshot. 

214.  Ardea  Candidissima  (.Taequin)  Umelin.         Linlo  white  Kprot. 

A  rare  accidental  visitor  from  the  Sonth.  Se('n  at  Stratford,  C'omi., 
by  Linsley.  Also  taken  in  ^Massachusetts,  and  one  straiii^ler  even 
reached  Nova  Scotia  ('-Jones"').  Dr.  Crary  says  that  he  has  taken 
it  near  Hartford,  Conn, 

215.  Ardea  CSerulea  Linne.         Little  Blue  Heron. 

A  very  rare  accidental  visitor  from  the  South.  T.insley  took  it  at 
Stratford,  Conn.  Has  been  taken  in  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Dayaii  saw 
a  small  Heron  on  Lake  Whitney,  early  in  April,  1S77,  which  he  sup- 
poses to  have  been  this  species.  In  the  Cabinet  of  Mr.  Coe,  of  l*ort- 
land.  Conn.,  is  a  beautiful  specimen  of  this  species  which  he  shot  in 
that  vicinity  early  in  July,  1875.'  It  was  a  young  bird  and  is  ])ure 
white  till  over,  excepting  the  tips  of  the  primaries,  which  show  a  lit- 
tle slate-blue  color.  There  were  two  of  them  together,  but  the  other 
escaped.  Mr.  P^rwin  1.  Shores,  of  Suffield,  Conn.,  writes  nn-  that  one 
was  shot  there  about  the  middle  of  May  by  ^Ir.  Chas.  Newton.  ."\lr. 
Shores  did  not  see  the  specimen,  but  stiys:  "Dr.  Newton  described 
it  to  me  as  'a  small  Heron  blue  .all  over,'  and  I  luive  no  doubt  but 
that  it  was  this  species." 

216.  Ardea  virescens  Linne.         Green  Llerou. 

A  common  summer  resident.  Breeds  in  si'veral  jilaces  near  New 
Haven— notably  in  "Pine  Swamp."  Arrives  late  in  .\pril  or  early 
in  May  (^!ay  ;^),  remaining  into  October.     Capt.  Urooks  iidbrius  me 


112  (J.  11.  Merrkmi — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

that  they  sometimes  stop  at  Faulkner's  Island  in  spring.    Breeds  late 
in  May  and  in  early  June. 

217.  Nyctiardea  grisea,  var.  naevia  (Boddert)  Allen.         Night  Heron. 

A  common  summer  resident.  Breeds  in  Pine  and  Heron  Swamps, 
near  New  Haven,  and  in  several  otlier  places  about  the  State,  and  on 
islands  ott'the  coast.  Mr.  A.  J.  Da3"an  started  a  small  flock  on  Lake 
Whitney,  April  24th,  1877,  and  they  alighted  on  a  tree.  On  his  near 
approach  all  took  flight  but  one,  which  he  brought  down,  and  an 
examination  proved  that  it  had  a  well  marked  cataract  in  the  eye 
facing  the  direction  from  which  he  approached.  This  is  an  interest- 
ing fact  in  Ornithological  pathology.  Remains  into  October.  Mr. 
W.  W.  Coe,  of  Portland,  Conn.,  on  the  17th  of  April,  1872,  visited  a 
"  Heronry''''  of  this  species,  at  Rocky  Hill,  Conn.  He  writes  :  "  Saw 
hundreds  of  nests,  each  containing  from  two  to  five  eggs.  Eight  and 
even  ten  nests  were  frequently  found  on  one  tree,  and  the  same  nest 
often  contained  fresh  eggs,  eggs  half  hatched,  and  young  birds. 
The  trees  were  white  from  the  excrements  of  the  birds,  and  looked  as 
if  they  had  all  been  whitewashed;  nothing  could  grow  under  them."* 

Note. — The  Yellow-crowned  Niglit  Heron  {Kyctiardea  violocea) 
has  been  taken  in  Massachnsetts,  by  Mr.  Vickery  (Oct.,  lS62),f  and 
doubtless  occurs  as  a  rare  accidental  visitor. 

218.  Botanrus  minor  (Gmelin)  Boie.         Bittern;  Stake-driver. 

A  common  summer  resident.  Arrives  in  April  (Apr.  26,  1875, 
Sage),  remaining  till  Noveml)er.  Linsley  relates  the  following  annis- 
ing  anecdotes  concerning  this  species:  "I  obtained  a  fiue  specimen 
ol'  the  American  Bittern  two  years  since,  which  had  previously  given 
great  alarm  to  many  of  our  inhabitants  by  its  peculiarly  doU'fnl  and 
nu)urnful  sounds  at  evening.  One  man  A\ho  was  laboring  near  the 
swamp,  it  is  said,  ran  a  miU'  in  the  gi\'atest  consternation,  alleging 
that  '  the  d — 1  was  after  him.''  It  is  also  stated  by  several  of  oui* 
most  respectable  inli:ibitants,  that  tbrty-si'ven  years  since,  [17{)I>|  one 
hundred  men  united  in  a  c<)m])any  on  the  Sabbath  to  traverse  tliis 
swam]),  and  succeeded  in  killing  one  of  these  sanu>  birds,  and  that 
their  sounds  have  not  been  heard  in  town  since,  until  the  former  in- 
stance occurred  which  secured  a  specimen  to  me."J 


*  MS.  note.s  of  W.  W.  Ooe,  Esq. 

f  Alien,  Rarer  I'.irds  of  Massachusetts,  p.  HO,  IS6!». 

\  Am.  Jour.  Sei.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2,  j).  205,  1843. 


C  IT.  Mcil'ldin — /!/'n/s  <if  (  'oiiiii  <-tii-iit.  1  |;{ 

219.  Ardetta  exilis  ((^molin)  Cray.  I.oast  BitU'iii. 

Tlie  Least  nitti'ni  stH'ins  to  Ik',  :it  iircscnf.  a  |irctly  rcniihir  ^iiiiiiiii'r 
ivsitlont,  tliouu'li  foniu'rly  rciiardcil  as  an  accidental  \isiti)r.  I/nislc\ 
U'avc  it  from  Nortlitovd,  Conn.,  witliout  cuninunl.  It  lias  ccitainly 
bred  here  for  several  years  past,  and  on  June  27tli,  isTC,  .Mr.  Nidi. .is 
found  its  nest  at  Iji'anford,  (\)iui.,.c()ntaininy,-  (inc  I'rcsli  eou-.  IIa\t' 
seen  it  in  Se|)teiul)er.  Tliey  were  particadarly  altundant  tlintUi;li(Mit 
the  State  durino-  the  season  of  1  S7a.  .Air.  W.  W.  ('<ie,  who  luis  seven 
beautiful  specinu'iis  in  his  cabinet,  showecl  nie  live  e^-js  which  he 
took  from  a  nest  at  Porthuid,  Conn.,  June  14th,  187;^,  and  sa\s  thai 
they  breed  regularly  in  that  vicinity.  .Mi-.  Geo.  Bird  (iriiniell  als.. 
tells  me  that  he  takes  two  oi-  three  every  year  (geiieralh  in  August 
or  September).  They  follow^  up  the  Connectient  Valli'y  to  Massa- 
chusetts (Sutiield,  Conn.,  July,  E.  T.  Shores). 

Note. — The  Sand-hill  Crane,  Gms  Canadensis  (Linne)  Tenmi., 
though  not  occiirring  in  New  England  at  the  present  time,  even  as  a 
rare  straggler,  was  once  common  here.  Tlumias  i\b)rton,  writing  of 
the  birds  of  New  England,  in  1032,  says,  of  "  Cranes,  there  are  gn-ate 
store,  that  even  more  came  there  at  S.  Davids  day,  and  not  before  : 
that  day  they  never  would  misse.  These  sometimes  eate  our  corne, 
and  doe  pay  for  their  presumption  well  enough  ;  and  serveth  tliere  in 
powther,  with  turnips  to  supply  the  place  of  ])owthered  beefe,  ami  is 
a  goodly  bird  in  a  dishe,  and  no  disconnnodity."*  The  fact  that 
they  ate  corn,  and.  were  themselves,  in  turn,  eaten  by  the  inhabitants, 
clearly  shows,  as  Prof.  J.  A.  Allen  has  said,  "that  the  Crane,  aiul  not 
a  Heron,  is  the  bird  to  which  reference  is  made."f  Moreover,  Samuel 
Williams,  more  than  an  hundred  and  fifty  years  later  (in  1704),  says 
that  the  Sand-hill  Crane  {'■'■  Ardea  (kiitadensis'''')  was  anu)ng  the 
commonest  of  the  "  Water  F'owl"  found  in  Vermont  at  that  tinie.J 
Belknap  also  gives  it,  in  1792,  as  one  of  the  birds  of  New  Ilampshire.J^ 
And  even  so  recently  as  1842,  Zadock  Thom]»sou  wrote  that  the 
Whooping  Crane,  Gms  Americana  (Linne)  Temmiiu-k,  was  "occa- 
sionally seen  during  its  migrations,"!  in  Vermont. 

*New  English  Canaan.  Printed  by  Charles  Greene,  1632.  Reprinted  in  Force's 
Historical  Tracts,  vol.  ii,  Tract  5,  pp.  47-8. 

fBull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club,  vol.  i,  No.  3,  p.  58.     Sept.,  187(3. 

X  The  Natural  and  Civil  History  of  Vermont,  p.  119.     1794. 

§  The  History  of  New  Hampshire,  vol.  iii.     By  Jeremy  Belknap,  p.  1G9.     1792. 

II  History  of  Vermont,  p.  lO.T.     IS  12. 

Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Vol.  IV.  15  Al:«.,  1877. 


114  (J.  If.  Merriam — Birds  of  ConnecUovi. 

Tlie  present  distribution  of  the  Sand-hill  Crane  is  interesting  from  its 
peculiarity.  Common  throughout  the  West,  they  extend  northward 
even  into  Alaska,  breeding  about  the  Yukon  (Dall),*  but  are  not 
found  east  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  except  in  Florida,  where  I  have 
seen  them,  both  on  the  Ocklawaha  River,f  and  Hying  over  the  St. 
Johns.  Both  Mr.  GrinnellJ  and  myselF§  found  them  to  be  abundant 
in  the  Yellowstone  National  Park,  though  so  wary  that  it  was  diffi- 
cult to  obtain  a  shot  at  them.  They  were  particularly  numerous  in 
the  Lower  Geyser  Basin,  in  August,  and  used  to  make  such  an 
unnecessary  amount  of  noise,  mornings,  that  sleep,  after  daylight,  was 
well  nigh  out  of  the  question.  Showing  a  decided  preference  for  the 
grassy  meadows  (called  "  Parks,"  in  the  West)  surrounded  by  heavy 
forests,  and  marking,  perhaps,  the  course  of  some  mountain  stream, 
which  is  content  to  check  its  headlong  speed  while  passing  through  a 
neighboring  valley,  the  Sand-hill  Crane,  ever  on  the  alert,  keeps  well 
away  from  the  trees,  and  at  the  ap[)roach  of  any  suspicious  object,  at 
once  takes  flight,  uttei'ing  its  warning  cry  for  the  benefit  of  those  of 
its  kind  who  happen  to  be  near.  The  flats  which  they  frequent  are 
often  studded  with  wooded  knolls,  and  the  best  way  to  hunt  them  is 
to  betake  one's  self,  in  company  with  a  good  rifle,  to  one  of  these 
"  Islands"  before  the  fog  rises  in  the  morning,  and  remain  concealed 
and  perfectly  quiet.  When  the  fog  lifts,  the  stately  forms  of  tlie 
Cranes  may  be  seen  scattered  over  the  meadows,  always  peering  about 
in  search  of  danger ;  but  at  least  one  is  pretty  sure  to  be  witliin  rifle 
range.  And  at  the  report  the  alarm  is  given  and  the  others  lose 
no  time  in  beating  a  hasty  retreat.  Tlieir  flight  is  heavy,  and 
seemingly  laborious.  To  their  edil)le  qualities  I  can  testifj^  witli  a 
good  grace.  The  flesh  is  really  excellent,  deep  red  in  color,  and  not 
unlike  that  of  the  Beaver.     Few  birds  are  more  difficult  to  skin. 

Thomas  Pennant,  in  his  Arctic  Zoology  (1785)  says  that  "they 
arrive  in  May  about  Severn  River,  Hudson's  Bay.  Frequent  lakes 
and  ponds.  Feed  on  fish  and  insects.  Hatch  two  young ;  and  retire 
southward  in  aiitumn.||  I  must  observe,  that  they  formerly  made  a 
halt  in  the  Hurons  country,  at  the  season  in  which  the  Indians  set 
their  maize;  and  again  on  their  return  from  the  North,  when  the 
harvest  was  ready,  in  order  to   feed   on   the  grain.     The  Indians,  at 

*  Alaska  and  its  Resources.     By  ■William  TI.  Dall.     Appendix  G,  p.  58:^.     ISTO. 
f  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  viii,  No.  2,  p.  89.     Feb.,  18'74. 

|:Ludlow's  Report  for  18*75,  p.  87.  §  Hayden's  Report  for  1872,  p.  702. 

II  Ph.  Trans.,  Ixii,  409. 


('.  //.  Mernmn—Iiinls  of  <'<,,iiHriiriit.  \  m 

tlioso  timos,  wH'iv  used  (,<.  sli(...(  tlii'iii  with  arrows  hca.l.'.l  willi  >i,.iif; 
forTheodat,*  my  autlioiit y,  made  liis  ii'iiiarks  in  tliat  country  in  llic- 
beginning  oftlu'  last  ci'iitiirv."! 


Family,  RALLID^. 

220.  Rallus  longirostriS  Boddert.         Clapper  Rail. 

Not  common.  Taken  at  Stratford  by  Linsley,  who  remarks  tli:jt 
it  "  breeds  abundantly"  tliere.J  Frequents  salt  marshes.  IJccenlJv 
recorded  from  Massachusetts  by  ]\Ir.  Purdie.  "The  bird  was  cap- 
tured by  its  flying  on  hoard  a  vessel  in  the  []>osto!i]  harbor.  May  4, 
1875."§ 

Several  well  authenticated  instances  of  its  occurrence  in  Connec- 
ticut have  recently  come  to  my  notice. 

221.  Rallus  elegans  Audubon.         King  Rail. 

Rather  rare.  Found  breeding  at  Stratford,  by  Linsley.  J  Frequents 
fresh-water  marshes.  jNIr.  W.  W.  Coe  has  taken  it  at  I'ortland, 
Conn.  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark  of  Saybrook,  Conn.,  has  a  fine  specimen  in 
his  cabinet  taken  there  in  mid-winter  (Jan.  14,  1876). 

222.  Rallus  VirginianUS  Llnne.         Virginia  Rail. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  plentifully  in  both  salt  and 
fresh-water  marshes.  They  are  quite  abundant  in  the  brackish-water 
marshes  bordering  the  Quinnipiac  River,  and  here  my  friend,  Mr. 
Dayan,  found  a  nest  containing  seven  fresh  eggs  and  secured  the  old 
bird,  on  June  7th,  1870.  Concerning  the  nocturnal  proclivities,  and 
shrill,  startling  cry  of  the  Rail,  Dr.  Coues  thus  graphically  writes: 
"  At  nightfall  some  Mallard  and  Teal  settled  into  the  rushes,  gabb- 
ling cnrious  vespers  as  they  went  to  rest.  A  few  ^Marsh  Wrens  had 
appeared  on  the  edge  of  the  reeds,  queerly  balancing  themselves  on 
the  thread-like  leaves,  sea-sawing  to  their  own  quaint  music.  Then 
they  were  hushed,  and  as  darkness  settled  down,  the  dull,  heavy 
croaking  of  the  frogs  played  bass  to  the  shrill  falsetto  of  the  insects. 
Suddenly  tliey  too  were  hushed  in  turn,  frightened,  may  be,  into 
silence ;    and  from  the  heart  of  the  bullrushes,  '  crlk-crik-rik-k-k-k,^ 


*  As  quoted  by  De  BufEon.  f  Arctic  Zoology,  vol.  11,  p.  443.     1785. 

X  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2,  p.  267,  \%i^^. 

§  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club,  vol.  ii,  No.  1,  p.  22,  Januar)',  1877. 


110  C  H.  Merriaui — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

lustily  shouted  some  wi<le-a\vake  IJail,  to  be  answered  by  another 
and  another,  till  the  reeds  resounded.  Then  all  was  silent  again  till 
the  most  courageous  frog  renewed  his  pipes.  The  Rail  arc,  partially 
at  least,  nocturnal.  During  such  moonlight  nights  as  these  they  are 
on  the  alert,  patrolling  the  marshes  through  the  countless  covered 
ways  among  the  reeds,  stopping  to  cry  '  all's  w^ell '  as  they  pass  on, 
or  to  answer  the  challenge  of  a  distant  watchman.  That  they  feed 
by  night  as  Avell  as  by  day,  cannot  be  doubted.  Their  habit  of 
skulking  and  hiding  in  the  almost  inaccessible  places  they  frequent 
renders  them  difficult  of  observation,  and  they  are  usually  considered 
rarer  than  they  really  are."* 

223.   Porzana  Carolina  (Liune)  Cabanis.         Carolina  Rail ;  Sora. 

An  abundant  summer  resident.  Large  numbers  are  killed  each  year 
for  the  market.  Have  seen  them  as  late  as  October  (1874).  Found 
both  in  fresh  and  salt-w^ater  marshes  where  there  is  an  abimdant 
growth  of  "  Bullrushes,"  "  Cat  tails"  and  the  like.  Linsley  says  of 
it :  "  The  Carolina  IJail  was  so  al)undant  hei-e  [Stratford,  Conn.]  last 
Autumn,  in  the  marshes  of  the  Housatonic,  that  something  like  hun- 
dreds were  killed  in  a  few  hours,  and  that  too  for  several  days 
together.  They  were  esteemed  a  great  delicacy. "f  Ivegarding  the 
difficulty  of  seeing  them  in  their  favorite  haunts,  Mr.  Maynard 
writes :  "  I  have  been  in  a  swamp  where  there  were  literally  thou- 
sands of  theiu,  yet  was  unable  to  start  more  than  two  or  three  !"J 
I  have  had  many  similar  experiences.  One  will  suffice:  Well 
do  I  remember  finding  a  Rail's  nest  in  a  marshy  swail  near  the 
mouth  of  a  small  caiion  at  the  foot  of  the  Wahsatch  Range,  just  back 
of  Ogden,  Utah.  It  was  early  in  June,  and  the  nest,  which  was 
large  and  bulky,  being  com])osed  of  coarse  marsh  grass,  was  hidden 
in  a  clump  of  flags,  whose  ai'ching  blades  met  overhead,  so  conceal- 
ing the  enclosed  treasures  that  they  could  only  be  seen  by  stooping 
over  and  ))eering  through  a  small  o]»ening  in  the  side,  left  for  the 
passage  of  the  parent  bird.  As  yet  but  two  eggs  had  been  deposited, 
and  the  bird  stole  so  silently  and  ([uickly  through  the  reeds  that  I 
hardly  felt  sure  it  was  not  a  snake  till  careful  search  revealed  the 
nest.  The  next  thing  to  be  done  was  to  secure  the  old  bird,  and 
with  this   end   in   view  the  place  was  visited  at  least  once  each  day 

*  Coues,  Birds  of  the  Northwest,  pp.  537-8,  1874. 

f  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2,  p.  267,  April,  1843. 

X  Maynard's  Naturalists'  Guide,  pp.  145-40,  1873. 


G.  H.  3li  rriiiiii — /lin/x  of'  ( 'niini'i-tinit.  1  I  7 

till  tliv  ini(l(lli'  of  Juiu',  Imt,  not  widisliindiiiii-  tlic  ImcI  that   1  f\crcisc<l 
tlu'   o-roatest    caiitioii    ii>    apin-oarh,  I    nc\ci-  so  niiicli  as  caiiLiiit  a  iiiu- 
iiKMitary  gliin|»sc'  of  her  I'oriii,  tliou^li  once  or  twice  a  sliailow   srinu-il 
to  flit  hurriedly  hy  :in(l  (lisai>|>ear  in  jilaiii  siglit.      W'liat   made  it  still 
iiu>re  iviuarkaltle  was  thai  tlu'  iiuiiiher  of  coms  kc|)t    iii('i-casiii>4  dav 
by  day,  and    I  always  found   them  warm,  showinij;  that   the  l»ird  had 
been  gone  but  an  instant.     Onee,  while  I'eeling  of  the  euu^s,  I  was  so 
startled   by   her   harsh    eraeklinu;   ei-y,  uttered    suddenly   at    my    very 
feet,  that  I  came  near  breaking-  tlieni  all,  but  still  saw  nothing  of  htr. 
The   time   had   come  when   we  must    move   camp,  so  on  the   loth  of 
June  I   made   a  flnal   eflbrt  to  secun-  the  old   Itird.     The  nest  now 
contained  twelve  eggs,  and  T  fancied   I  could  hear  the  faint  |»ei'|tin<j; 
of  a  young  bird   in   his  attemi)t  to  extricate  himself  from  the  shell. 
Stepping  back  a  few  paces,   I   waited,  gun   in   hand,  for  the  space  of 
two   long  hours,  standing   first  on  one  leg,  then  on  the  other,  like  a 
bashful   country  boy,  till   my  patience  was  nearly  exhausted   and   I 
was  on  the  point  of  leaving,  when  something  daited  (juicklv  toward 
the  nest — it  was  enough  ;  the  mangled  remains  sufficed  to  determine 
the  species.     Meanwhile  the  egg  had  fairly  hatched,  and  its  noisy 
contents  had  already  gained  no  little  use  of  its  tiny  twigs.     How  the 
first  hatched  youngsters  amuse  themselves  during  the  ten  days,  or 
two  weeks,  whilst  the  other  eggs  are  coming  to  maturity,  will  donbt- 
less  be  fully  elucidated   by  he  who  attempts  to  explain    how  it  is 
that  a  bird  can  give  origin,  in  the  coarse  of  a  couple  of  wi-eks,  to  a 
dozen  of  eggs,  each  nearly  as  large  and  heavy  as  her  own   body. 
Certain  it  is  that  the  processes  of  digestion,  and  assimilation  of  nutri- 
ment, must  go  on  in  them  much  more  rapidly  than  in  ourselvi-s. 

Wilson  remarked  that,  "Of  all  our  land  or  water  fowl,  jn'rhaps 
none  afix>rd  the  sportsman  more  agreeable  amusement,  or  a  more 
delicious  repast,  than  the  little  bird  now  before  us.  This  amusement 
is  indeed  temporary,  lasting  only  two  or  three  hours  in  the  day  for 
four  or  five  weeks  in  each  year."  The  mode  of  procedure  is  thus 
described:  "The  sportsman  furnishes  himself  with  a  light  batteau,  and 
a  stout  experienced  boatman,  with  a  i)ole  of  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  long, 
thickened  at  the  lower  end  to  ])revent  it  tiom  sinking  too  deep  into 
the  mud.  About  two  hours  or  so  before  high  water  they  enter  the 
reeds,  and  each  takes  his  post,  the  sportsman  standing  in  the  bow- 
ready  for  action,  the  boatman  on  the  stern  seat  pushing  her  steadily 
through  the  reeds.  The  IJail  generally  spring  singly,  as  the  boat 
advances,  and  at  a  short  distance  ahead,  are  instantly  shot  <lown, 
while  the  boatman,  keeping  his  eye  on  the  spot  where  the  bird  fell, 


118  C.  IT.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

directs  the  boat  forward  and  picks  it  uj)  wliile  the  gunner  is  loading. 

In  this  manner  the  boat  moves  steadily  through  and  over 

the  reeds,   the  birds  flushing   and  falling,  the  gunner  loading  and 

firing,  while  the  boatman  is  pushing  and   picking  up In 

these  excursions  it  is  not  uncommon  for  an  active  and  expert  marks- 
man to  kill  ten  or  twelve  dozen  in  a  tide  !"*  Mr.  Grinnell  informs 
me  that  the  same  method  of  hunting  is  practiced  on  the  marshes 
bordering  the  Housatonic  River,  Conn. 

224.  Porzana  Noveboracensis  (Gmelin)  Cassin.         Yellow  Rail. 

Not  common.  Taken  at  Stratford,  Conn.,  by  Linsley.  Though 
one  of  the  rarer  birds,  it  breeds  about  Middletown,  Conn.,  as  I  am 
informed  by  Mr.  Coe,  Avho  took  it  there  in  1874  and  1875.  Mr.  Thos. 
Osborne  has  a  specimen  killed  near  New  Haven.  Mr.  Grinnell  favors 
me  with  the  following  note  concerning  its  occurrence  on  the  marshes 
near  Milford,  Conn. : 

Di:ar  Merriam— The  specimens  of  Porzana  Noveboracensis  about 
which  you  enquire  were  taken  for  the  most  part  during  the  month  of 
October,  1S70,  although  I  procured  one  individual  as  late  as  Xov. 
loth.     The  securing  of  the  first  two  or  three  was  quite  accidental. 

I  was  working  a  young  setter  on  Snipe  [Gallinago  Wilson i)  on  a 
piece  of  Avet  meadow  near  Milford,  Conn.,  and  several  times  during 
the  early  part  of  the  day  was  annoyed  by  the  pertinacious  way  in 
which  the  dog  would  trail  up  some  bird  which  neither  he  nor  I  could 
start.  At  length  during  one  of  these  perfoi-mances  I  saw"  the  puppy 
grasp  at  something  in  the  bogs  before  him,  and  immediately  a  small 
Rail  rose  and  fluttered  a  few  yards.  Noticing  its  small  size,  and  the 
fact  that  it  had  some  white  on  its  wings,  and  seeing  from  its  flight 
that  it  was  a  Rail,  I  shot  the  bird  before  it  had  gone  far,  and  when  it 
was  brought  by  the  dog  I  was  delighted  to  see  that  it  was  P.  JVove- 
boracensis,  a  species  which  I  had  never  before  seen  alive.  During 
the  day  several  more  individuals  were  secured.  The  next  oppor- 
tunity that  I  had  of  looking  for  these  birds  was,  I  think,  Oct.  14th. 
That  day  my  brother  and  I  secured  eight  in  an  hour  or  two.  They 
were  ridiculously  tame  and  woidd  run  along  before  the  dog,  creeping 
into  the  holes  in  the  bogs  and  hiding  tlieve  while  we  tried  in  vain  to 
start  then),  I  killed  one  witli  my  <log  whip,  caught  one  alive  in  my 
hand,  and   the   dog   brought   me   another,  uninjured,   which    he   had 


*  Wilson's  American  Ornithology,  vol.  iii,  p.  115,  1831. 


C.  H.  ]\l(')'ri(()ii — li/'rtfs  of  <  'i)iniii-tit'ii(.  \  \\\ 

oaiiglit  in  his  inoulli.  l-'i-diii  \vli:it  I  s:i\v  <il"  tlicir  lialdls,  I  ;iiii  cdii- 
vinced  that  Xhv  only  sm-ci'ssful  way  oi"  (•(.ilcctiiiu-  these  hir.ls  is  t-. 
look  for  tliem  witli  a  (loo-.  Without  one  liiey  couhl  never  I.e  t'nice.l 
from  the  ground.     Yours  sinctMvIy, 

(tKO.     I>II;I>    (  ilMN  nki.i.. 

225.  Porzana  Jamaicensis  (Omciin)  Cnssin.       Hiaok-  HmH. 

An  extremely  rare  siunnuT  resident.  Uut  three  speciniens  nl'  this 
rare  bird  liave  as  yet  been  obtained  in  New  Kiioland.  The  second 
Conneetieut  reeord  is  that  givon  by  ]Mr.  II,  A.  J'unlie,  wlio  writes: 
"Of  this  species  .^Ir.  Clark,  of  Saybrook,  Conn.,  writes  nie  ili.it  a 
neiold)or  of  his,  while  mowing  at  that  place,  July  loth,  ISTG,  swung 
his  scythe  over  a  nest  of  ten  eggs  on  which  the  bird  was  sittini;, 
unfortunately  cutting  off  the  bird's  head  and  breaking  all  but  four  ol" 
the  eggs."*  I  have  recently  seen  the  eggs  in  question,  in  .Mr,  Clark's 
collection.  They  agree  precisely  with  Cones'  description  of  the  eggs 
of  this  bird,  "being  creamy-white,  sprinkled  all  over  with  tine  dots 
of  rich,  bright  reddishd)rown,"  and  are  totally  unlike  those  of  any 
other  species  of  Rail.  The  bird  was  not  preserved,  init  there  seems 
to  be  no  reasonable  doubt  of  its  identity.  Mr.  Purdie  further  states 
that  he  has  "lately  seen  a  skin  of  this  species  belonging  to  Mr, 
Browne,  of  Framingham.  The  bird  was  picked  up  dead,  in  August, 
1869,  by  a  relative  of  his,  on  Clark's  Island,  Plymouth  lIar1)or 
[Mass.],  and  was  forwarded  to  him  as  something  entirely  new  to  our 
shores.  This  instance  adds  a  new  bird  to  the  Fauna  of  Massaclm- 
setts,"*  The  only  other  recorded  instance  of  its  capture  in  New 
England  is  that  given  by  Dr.  Thos.  M.  Brewer:  "Ilazeiiville,  Conn., 
Batty." 

226.  Gallinnla  galeata  (Licht.)  P.onaparte.         Florida  Gallinulp. 

A  rather  common  summer  resident,  as  I  am  told  l)y  Mr.  (Triiiiiell. 
who  has  taken  a  number  of  specimens  about  Miltbrd,  Conn.  .Mr.  W. 
W.  Coe  has  also  taken  it  near  Portland,  Coini. 

227.  Porphyrio  Martinica  (Linne)  Tcuiminck.         I'lirpU- Callimile. 

A  rare  accidental  visitor  from  the  South.  A  specimen  of  this 
species  was  killed  near  Middletown,  Conn.,  about  the  year  1855,  and 
is  now  in  the  Museum  of  Wesleyan  ITniversit3\  It  has  been  taken 
in  Massachusetts,  as  recorded  by  G.  P.  Whitnuin:  "A  fine  sjiecimen 

*  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club,  No.  vol.  ii,  1,  p.  22,  January,  1877. 


120  C.  IT.  Merriam — Blnls  of  (Jon)ieeticut. 

of  the    Purple    Galliuule  was  shot  at  '  Ileniy's  Pond,'  'South-end,' 
Rockport,  Mass.,  on  April  12t]i,  [1SV5]  by  Mr.  Robert  Wendell."* 

228.  Fulica  Americana  Gmelin.         Common  Coot;  Mud  Hen. 

Common  during  the  migrations,  particularly  in  foil.  May  breed. 
Linsley  took  five  specimens  at  Stratford,  remarking  that  it  was  "  by 
no  means  common"  there.  Last  October  (1876),  my  friend,  Mr.  A.  J. 
Dayan,  shot  several  on  Lake  Whitney,  and  ascertained  that  no  less 
than  tifty  specimens  were  kille(l  there  during  that  month  ! 


Family,  ANATID^. 

229.   CygnuS   AmericanUS  Sliarpless.         Whistling  Swan. 

A  rare,  almost  accidental,  visitor,  occurring  oidy  in  winter. 
Linsley  mentions  the  occurrence  of  four  specimens,  at  Stratford, 
Conn.,  two  of  which  were  killed.  My  friend.  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Hotchkiss, 
of  this  city,  tells  me  that  he  was  informed,  by  William  Beers, 
Esq.,  that  two  Swans  were  seen  in  Branford  Harbor,  during  a  severe 
gale,  about  the  middle  of  March,  1876.  I  take  it  for  granted  that 
they  were  of  this  species,  since  there  is  no  positive  record  of  the 
occurrence  of  the  Trumpeter  Swan  ( (Jygu.iis  buccinator)  within  our 
limits.  Mr.  Griiniell  also  informs  me  that  several  Swans  were  seen 
near  Milford,  Coini.,  about  the  same  time.  Swans  were  once  common 
in  New  England,  during  the  migrations,  as  seen  from  IMorton's 
remarks  concerning  them  (in  1632):  "And  tirst  of  the  Swanne, 
because  she  is  the  biggest  of  all  the  fowles  of  that  Country.  There 
are  of  them  in  Merrimack  River,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  Country, 
greate  Store  at  the  seasons  of  the  yeare.  The  flesh  is  not  much  de- 
sired of  the  inhabitants,  but  the  skinnes  may  be  accompted  a  com- 
modity, fitt  for  divers  uses,  both  for  fethers,  and  quiles."f 

Note. — The  Trumpeter  Swan  (C'//,y>/w.s'  buccinator  Richardson), 
may,  and  very  ])i-obably  does,  sometimes  occur  within  oui-  limits. 
Di".  Wood,  of  East  Windsor  Hill,  informs  me  that  a  hunter  in  his 
vicinity,  who  was  perfectly  familiar  with  this  bird  in  the  Wi'St,  where 
they  were  common,  once  told  liim  that  he  h:id  lieanl  tlic  unmistaka- 
ble note  of  the  Trumpeter  Swan,  but  ilid  not  see  the  bird.     A  short 

*  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  ix,  No.  10,  p.  57:^,  Oct.,  1875. 
f  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  vol.  ii,  Tract  5,  p.  46. 


C.  II.  Me)'vi((ni — Iiir<l.-<  iif  ('(iiiiKftliiit,  1  j  1 

tiTiu'  alU'rwanls,  howi'vcr,  on  auaiii  iiUH'tiiiL;-  tin-  I  )oct()r,  t  he  Imiitcr 
said  that,  a  few  clays  befoiv,  lu'  luaid  tlu-  Swans  comin.^  and  nislicl 
into  tlie  bouse  for  his  gun,  but  l»t'l()rc  lie  ivtunu-d  with  it  they  lia<l 
l)assc(l  over,  between  tlio  liousi"  and  barn,  that  he  had  a  u'ood  si<,dil 
at  them  and  was  confident  that  tlu-y  \\<.-yv  Truni|ittcrs.  rn.c.f  is 
wanting  to  shoAV  tliat  some  of  the  birds  inentioncil  lunhr  the  hist 
s])ecies  w'ere  not  really  Cygniis  buccinator. 

230.  Anser  hyperboreus  Pallas.         Snow  Goose. 

A  rai-e  winter  visitor.  Linsley  records  seven  s^iecimens  liom 
Stratford,  Conn.  iMr.  W.  W.  Coe,  of  Forthind,  has  a  magnificent 
si)ecinien  of  this  species  in  his  cabinet.  It  was  killed  on  the  coast 
near  Saybrook,  Conn.,  in  the  fall  of  1875. 

Note. — The  Barnacle  Goose  [Branta  leiicopsis  Boie),  a  rare  acci- 
dental visitor  to  our  coast,  from  Europe,  is  given  by  Linsley  from 
Stonington,  Conn.,  but  on  insufficient  evidence.  Stragglers  liave 
been  taken  from  South  Carolina  to  Hudson's  Bay,  and  a  fine  s]>eci- 
men  of  this  Goose  was  killed  on  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  in  October, 
1 87(3  (recorded  by  Mr.  Law^rence),*  hence  it  may  occur  as  a  rare 
accidental  straggler. 

231.  Branta  bernicla  (Linne)  Scop.         Brant  Goose;  Black  Brant. 

A  tolerably  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  sometimes  re- 
maining through  the  winter.  Linsley  said :  "  The  Brant  is  common 
here.  [Stratford,  Conn.]  in  winter"  (p.  269).  Captain  Brooks  writes 
me  that  they  are  "  not  common"  at  Faulkner's  Island,  where  he  has 
"  only  taken  one."  Mr.  Grinnell  informs  me  that  two  s})ecimens  of 
this  species  were  killed  off  Stratford  Light,  Conn.,  last  spring  (1877). 
Mr.  Osborne  also  saw  three  individuals  near  the  mouth  of  the  East 
Haven  River,  Conn.,  April  14th,  187(3.  Dr.  Wood,  of  East  Windsor 
Hill,  Conn.,  has  a  fine  specimen  in  his  cabinet.  It  was  shot  on  tlie 
Connecticut  River,  above  Hartford,  in  the  spring  of  1870. 

This  species  is  first  recorded  from  Ncav  England  1))  Thomas 
Morton,  who,  in  1632,  M-rote :  "There  are  Geese  of  three  sorts,  vize, 
brant  Geese,  wliich  are  pide,  and  wdiite  Geese  which  an'  biggei-,  and 
gray  Geese,  which  are  as  big  and  bigger  then  the  tame  (u-ese  of 
England,  Avith  black  legges,  black  bills,  lieads  an<l  necks  black,  the 
flesh  farre  more  excellent,  then  the  Geese  of  ICnglan<l,  wild  or  tame, 

*  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club,  vol.  ii,  No.  1,  p.  18,  Jan.,  1877. 
Trans.  Conn.  Ac.\d.,  \o\..  TV.  16  Ara.,   1877. 


122  C.  II.  JSIerrhnu — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

yet  the  piirit}"  of  the  air  is  sueh,  that  tlie  biggest  is  accompted  but 
an  indifferent  meale  for  a  eouple  of  men.  There  is  of  them  great 
abundance.  I  have  had  often  1000.  before  the  moutli  of  my  gunne. 
I  uever  saw  any  in  England  for  my  part  so  fatt,  as  I  have  killed 
there  in  those  parts,  the  fethers  of  them  makes  a  bedd,  softer  than 
any  down  bed  that  I  have  lyen  on  :  and  is  there  a  very  good  com- 
modity, the  fethers  of  the  Geese  that  I  have  killed  in  a  short  time 
have  paid  for  all  the  powther  and  shott,  I  have  spent  in  a  yeare,  and 
I  have  fed  my  doggs  with  as  fatt  Geese  there,  as  I  have  ever  fed 
upon  myself  in  England."* 

232.  Branta  Canadensis  (Linne)  Gray.         Canada  Goose;  "Wild  Goose. 

A  winter  resident,  common  dui'ing  migrations ;  they  arrive  in 
November  (Nov.  24,  1872,  Sage),  some  remaining  through  April  and 
sometimes  even  into  May  (May  22,  1864,  Sage;  May  10,  1877,  C.  H, 
M.).  Linsley  writes  that  "Hundreds  of  the  common  'Wild  Geese' 
winter  at  the  mouth  of  the  Housatonic,  and  so  near  my  own  dwelling 
that  I  often  with  my  telescope  present  a  distinct  view  of  their  eyes 
to  my  friends  who  call.  Birds  are  said  to  be  near  enough  to  shoot 
when  their  eyes  are  visible  to  the  sportsman.  Many  are  killed  here 
merely  for  sale  by  gunners,  Avho  frequently  send  them  to  New 
York."f  Capt.  lirnoks  says  that  they  occasionally  stop  about  the 
islands  off  Guilford,  Conn.,  and  that  he  killed  two  last  November. 
Mr.  Grinnell  tells  me  that  generally  a  few  still  winter  about  the 
mouth  of  the  Housatonic  River,  Conn.,  and  that  over  two  hundred 
remained  there  last  winter  (1876-7).  They  begin  to  go  north  (some 
passing  nearly  due  east)  during  the  latter  part  of  March  (from  Mar, 
24th  on),  and  all  through  April  large  flocks  may  be  seen  and  heard 
overhead.  Many  of  these  contain  upwards  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
birds,  and  I  should  say  that  they  average  about  seventy-five.  They 
were  particularly  numerous  last  spring  (1877),  and  scai'cely  a  day 
passed  during  April  but  one  or  more  flocks  were  seen. 

233 '^  Branta  Canadensis,  var.  Hutchinsii  (Rich.)  Coues.      iiutchins' 

Goose ;  Southern  Goose. 

Not  common.  "Stratford,"  Conn.  (Linsley).  Mr.  (4eo.  ]>ird  (Grin- 
nell tells  nic  that  the  hunters  al>out  Milford,  Coini.,  all  make  a  dis- 
tinction  between  the   common  or  Canada  Goose  and  the  Southern 

*  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  Tract  T),  (vol.  ii,)  p.  46. 

f  Am.  Jour.  Soi.  and  Arts,  vol.  xiiv.  No.  2,  p.  2(59,  1843. 


('.  H.  Mirrhiiii — ll'inh  of  ('omtxtU'iit.  ]'j;( 

Goose.  'I'liat  the  latlcr  does  iiol  arrive  till  aricr  llic  ( 'aiiada  ( Jrcsi' 
liavi'  all  CKiiu',  and  that  tlu-y  do  not  stav  loiiu,  luit  pa^-^  M>iit  liw  ai-d — 
Ir'ik-o  their  nanu'.  They  are  also  iiotieealily  smaller  than  the  Canada 
Goose. 

233.  Anas  boSChas  Linne.         Mallard. 

A  rare  miorant.  Have  notes  of  its  oceurreuce  liere  Sei>te!n1n'r  :?otli, 
October,  and  Xovenil)er  l.'nh,  1875,  and  Mr.  Grinnell  saw  it  in  Octo- 
ber and  Xoveinber,  1876.  Linsley  gives  it  from  Stratford,  (apt. 
Brooks  writes  nie  from  Faulkner's  Island,  Conn.,  tliat  they  are  not 
abundant :  "occasionally  see  a  few  witli  Black  Ducks  in  the  fall." 

234.  Anas  Obscura  Gmelin.         Black-  Duck. 

A  resident,  but  most  abundant  during  the  migrations.  Capt. 
Brooks  writes  me  that  they  "  come  in  September  and  stay  through 
the  winter.  Leave  in  May  and  June."  Linsley  said  that  they 
occasionally  bred  about  Stratford,  Conn.  That  their  edible  qualities 
were  early  apjjreciated  is  seen  from  the  writings  of  Thomas  INIorton, 
who  said  (in  1632):  "Ducks,  there  are  of  three  kindes,  pide  Ducks, 
gray  Ducks,  and  black  Ducks,  in  greate  abundance:  the  most  about 
my  habitation  were  black  Ducks :  and  it  was  a  noted  custome  at  my 
howse,  to  have  every  mans  Duck  upon  a  trencher,  and  then  you  will 
thinke  a  man  was  not  hardly  used,  they  are  bigger  boddied,  then  the 
tame  Ducks  of  England  :  very  fatt  and  dainty  flesh.  The  common 
doggs  fees  were  the  gibletts,  unlesse  they  were  boyled  now  and 
than  for  to  make  broath."* 

235.  Dafila  acuta  (Liune)  Bonaparte.         Pintail;  Sprigtail. 

A  rather  rare  winter  resident.  Have  seen  but  few  specimens. 
Linsley  found  it  at  Stratford,  Conn.  Mr.  Osborne  saw  one  in  .Alarch 
(23),  1877.  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark,  of  Saybrook,  Conn.,  tells  me  that  he 
does  not  consider  it  particularly  rare;  in  fact  that  he  thinks  it  is 
rather  common  in  spring  and  fall  in  that  vicinity — about  the  mouth 
of  the  Connecticut.  Dr.  Wood,  of  East  Windsor  Hill,  has  two 
specimens  killed  on  the  Connecticut  Kiver  above  Ilartford,  l)ut  tiiey 
are  extremely  rare  there. 


*  New  English  Canaan,  p.  47.     Reprinted  in  Peter  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  Tract  5. 


124  C.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

236.  ChaulelasmUS  Streperus  (Linne)  Gray.         Gadwall ;  Gray  Duck. 

It  occurs  during  the  migrations  ;  not  common.  Captain  Brooks 
tells  me  that  they  are  "  occasionally  seen  "  about  Faulkner's  Island, 
Conn.,  "but  are  not  plenty."  Linsley  writes:  "Flocks  of  the  Gray 
Duck  were  here  as  early  as  August  last  season  [1842],  and  were 
among  the  best  of  ducks  for  the  table."* 

237.  Mareca  Americana  (Gmelin)  Stephens.         Widgeon  ;  Baldpate. 

Not  particularly  rare  during  the  migrations ;  may  winter.  Taken 
at  Stratford,  Conn.,  by  Linsley,  and  all  along  the  coast  by  others, 
too  numerous  to  mention.  Dr.  Wood  has  seen  three  specimens, 
one  of  which  he  shot,  near  East  Windsor,  Conn.,  but  they  are  rare 
in  this  State  so  far  inland.  Dr.  Coues  states  that  "  the  Widgeon 
breeds  in  abundance  in  Northern  Dakota  and  Montana  along  the 
banks  of  the  streams  and  pools."f  Thomas  Morton  found  them  in 
New  England  in  1632,  for  he  writes:  "  Widggens  there  are,  and 
abundance  of  other  water  foule,  some  such  as  I  have  scene,  and  such 
as  I  have  not  scene  else  where,  before  I  came  into  those  parts,  which 
are  little  regarded. "J 

238.  Querquedula    Carolinensis  (Gmelin)  Stephens.  Green-winged 
Teal. 

A  common  migrant.  Have  seen  it  in  March.  Taken  by  Linsley 
at  Stratford,  Conn.  Concerning  this  and  the  following  species  Mor- 
ton wrote,  in  1632:  "  Teales,  there  are  of  two  sorts  greene  winged, 
and  blew  winged :  but  a  dainty  bird,  I  have  bin  much  delighted 
with  a  rost  of  these  for  a  second  course,  I  had  plenty  in  the  rivers 
and  ponds  about  my  howse." 

239.  Querquedula  disCOrS  (Llnne)  Stephen.         Blue-winged  Teal. 

A  rather  common  migrant.  Mr.  Dayan  secured  a  beautiful  male 
of  this  species  on  Lake  Whitney,  September  25th,  1S75.  Arrives  in 
August  (Grinnell),  remaining  through  October  (Oct.  20,  1874,  Sage). 

240.  Spatula   Clypeata  (Linne)  Bole.         Slioveller;   "  Spoonliill-duck." 

This  splendid  species  is  a  rare  migrant  along  our  shores.  Linsley 
"  obtained  two  fine  males"  at  Stratford,  Conn.     Mr.  Grinnell  informs 

*  Am.  Jour,  of  Sci.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2,  p.  269,  April,  1843. 

f  Birds  of  the  Northwest,  p.  564,  1874. 

\  Reprinted  in  Force's  Historical  Tracts.     Tract  5,  p.  47. 


(J.  II.  Merridiii — />ir</s  of  ('i)innrtiritt.  !•_'.") 

liU'  tliat  lu'  took  twi)  or  tlirt'c  spcciiiiciis  :ili(»ut  (  >ct(>l>fi-  '-tli,  ls7.">,  in 
tlu'  SouikI  iH'ar  Milt'oi'd,  Conn.,  and  that  lie  docs  not  considir  tlu'in 
particularly  rare  at  that  season.  Mr.  \V.  \\'.  Coc  has  an  iinniatwrc 
8|>ec-inien  taken  at  Sayl>rook,  Dereinher  sth,  is74.  .Mr.  IJolicrt 
Morris,  of"  this  city,  tells  nie  that  he  has  kilted  it  late  in  -//////  on  the 
West  Haven  meadows,  and  has  also  seen  it,  al>oiit  the  same  time,  and 
early  in  August,  on  tlie  Quinnipiac  marshes. 

241.  Aix  sponsa  (T,iniie)  Boie.         Wood  Duck  ;  Summer  Pufk. 

A  tolerably  cotnmon  summer  resident,  breeding  in  lioles  in  trees. 
Arrives  in  March  (March  18,  1S76,  Osbornt'),  freipu'iiting  fresh-water 
ponds  and  streams,  and  lays  in  May,  remaining  into  ()(tober.  Za- 
dock  Thompson,  speaking  of  its  occurrence  in  Vermont,  says.  "  Tlu' 
Wood  Duck  is  one  of  tiie  most  beautiful  birds  seen  in  this  State,  and 
is  one  of  the  very  few  })ermanent  residents  here."* 

242.  Fulignla  marila  (Linne)  Stephens.       Greater  Scaup  Duck  ;   Broad-bill ; 
Blue-liill. 

A  rather  common  winter  resident.  Taken  at  Stratford  by  Linsley, 
Captain  Brooks  informs  me  that  they  are  "plenty  at  (iuilford,  Conn.'" 
In  spring  Mr.  Thos.  Osborne  has  taken  it  as  late  as  May  17th,  (ls70). 

243.  Fuligula  affinis  Eyton.         Lesser  Scaup  Duck  ;  Blue-l)ill. 

A  common  winter  resident.  Much  prized  for  the  table.  IJemains 
till  the  middle  or  latter  part  of  May  (May  17,  Osborne).  Dr.  Wood, 
of  East  Windsor  Hill,  once  killed  it  on  the  Connecticut  river  in  his 
vicinity. 

244.  Fuligula  COllaris  (Donovan)  Bonaparte.         Ring-ucckcd  Duck. 

It  is  not  common,  but  may  winter.  Linsley  took  it  at  Str.it lord, 
Conn.  Mr.  Geo.  Bird  Grinnell  has  secured  several  specimens  of  this 
bird,  in  early  spring,  on  the  Sound,  in  the  vicinity  of  Milford,  Conn. 

245.  Fuligula  ferina.  var.  Americana   (Eyton)  Coues.         Red-head; 

Pochard. 

Rare.    Lindsley  took  it  at  Stratford.    Tlie  IJev.  J.  II.  Hand  writes 
rae  that  he  has  taken  it  at  Westbrook,  Conn.,  but  it  is  rare  there. 
*  History  of  Vermont,  p.  109,  1842. 


126  G.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

246.  Fuligula  vallisneria  (Wilson)  Steplieus.         Canvas-back  Duck. 

IJare.  "  Stmtford,"  Conn.,  (Linsley).  Mr.  Robert  Aforris,  of  this 
city,  saw  one  May  7th,  1876.  I  am  also  informed  by  Rev,  J.  H. 
Hand,  that  it  oecnrs  at  Westbrook,  Conn.,  where  it  is  "  very  rare." 

247.  Bucephala  Clangula  (Linne)  Coues.     Golden-eye ;  Whistler. 

A  common  winter  resident.  Found  on  the  Sound  and.  on  fi-esh- 
water  ponds  from  November  to  April  or  May  (April  16th).  Captain 
Brooks  writes,  from  Faulkner's  Island,  "  only  see  them  here  in  very 
cold  winters." 

248.  Bucephala  Islandica  (Gmeliu)  Baird.         Barrow's  Golden-eye. 

A  rare  Avinter  visitant  from  the  North.  I  include  this  species  on 
the  strength  of  a  most  typical  (male  adult)  specimen  in  the  cabinet 
of  Mr.  John  H.  Sage,  of  Portland,  Conn.  It  was  purchased  by  him, 
November  14th,  1867,  from  a  man  who  said  it  was  killed  on  the 
Sound,  and  there  seems  to  be  no  reason  for  doubting  his  statement, 
especially  since  it  has  been  taken  as  far  South  as  New  York  City.* 
Mr.  William  Brewster  records  it  from  Massachusetts  with  the  follow- 
ing remarks:  "  I  obtained  an  adult  female  in  the  flesh  from  Cape 
Cod,  December  7th,  1871,  which  was  pronounced  by  Prof,  Baird 
unquestionably  B.  Islandica.  Since  then  I  have  seen  numbers  of 
females  and  two  fine  adult  males  in  the  Boston  Markets,  most  of 
them  sliot  witliin  State  limits."f 

249.  Bucephala  albeola  (Linne)  Baird.         Butter-ball ;  Buffle-head. 

A  common  winter  resident.  Found  both  on  fresh  and  salt  Avater. 
Nov.,  April  15th. 

250.  Harelda  glacialis  (Linne)  Leach.         Long-tailed  Duck ;  »)ld  AVife  ;  Old 
Squaw. 

A  common  winter  resident;  particularly  abundant  during  the 
migrations.  Captain  Brooks  writes  me  that  they  "usually  come  in 
October  and  leave  in  April  or  May."  This  is  by  far  the  most  abun- 
dant species  of  duck  found  along  our  coast,  and  during  the  migrations 
(notably  in  Novend)er)  hundreds  of  thousands  of  them  can  be  seen 
on  the  Sound,  covering  the  water  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach  in  every 
direction,  and  almost  deafening  one  by  their  constant,  and,  to  ray 
ears,  not  altogether  unpleasant,  cackle.     They  are  continually  on  the 

*  Coues'  Birds  of  New  England,  p.  52  (300),  1868. 
f  Am.  Xat.,  vol.  vi.  No.  5,  pp.  30G-7,  May,  1872. 


('.    II.    }h  rrnliii—  lii  I'ds  (if'  ( '(linn  ft  iciil.  \'1~ 

nidVi'  and,  not  w  itlist;iii(liiiu,-  tlicir  iiiiiiiciiM-  miiiiliris,  il  is  no  cmsv 
tusk  to  a])|)ro:icli  williiii  ^iinsliol  ol'  llic  tl.icU.  'riioii._ili  as  stricilv 
niaiitiiiu'  as  any  ol"  our  ducks,  they  liavi-  occasionally  slrayi-il  so  far 
into  the  interior  as  Central  Ohio  (Wiu'aton).  Mr.  (Hinnell  tells  nie 
that  they  occasionally  hri'i'd  liere,  l»ut  these  niav  he  wunnded  hirds — 
"  pensionei-s"  as  they  are  eoumionly  called.  Dr.  Wood  has  taUi  n  it 
on  tlie  Connecticut  lliver  above  Hartford,  but  it  is  lare  then'. 

251.  Camptolaemns  Labradorius  (Cmt^tiu)  Cmy.        L;ii.i;i<i(.r  Duck; 

Pied-Duck. 

Avery  rare  winter  visitor.  Linsley  took  it  at  Slrat  ford,  Cimn. 
Pennant,  in  his  Arctic  Zoology,  says  that  this  s])i'cies  was  ''sent  IVoni 
Connecticut  to  Mrs.  Bhiekburn,*  in  Ensj.land."' 

252.  Somateria  mollissima  (Linue)  Loach.         Eider  Duck. 

A  rare  winter  visitant  along  our  coast.  Linsley  states  that  "  one 
or  two  Eider  Ducks  were  killed"  at  Stratford,  Conn.,  by  Mr.  Lucius 
Curtis.  Mr.  Grinnell  tells  me,  that  he  saw  a  sijecimen  killed  on  tlu- 
Sound,  near  Milford,  Conn.,  by  a  gunner  (Samuel  Brown  by  name) 
May  29th,  1877,  and  that  two  Eider  Dncks,  probablt/  of  this  species, 
were  shot  there  in  the  fall  of  1874. 

253.  Somateria  spectatailis  (Linue)  Boie.         King  Eider. 

A  rare  winter  visitor,  like  the  last,  and  also  taken  at  Stratford, 
Conn.,  by  Linsley,  who  says  of  it :  "I  have  obtained  here  this  season 
two  specimens  of  the  King  Duck,  said  never  to  have  been  seen  here 
before.  They  are  among  the  best  for  the  table."f  Giraud  also  states 
that  "  an  adult  male  in  perfect  plumage  was  shot  on  Long  Island 
Sound,  in  the  winter  of  1889. "J 

254.  CEdemia  Americana  (Wilson)  Swainson.      Black  Scoter;  Gray  Coot. 

A  tolerably  common  winter  resident,  but  less  so  than  eithi'r  of  the 
following.  Linsley  had  it  from  Stratford.  Have  seen  it  early  in 
October  (October  4,  1876),  and  again  in  November,  but  the  hunters 
reo^ard  it  as  rather  rare.  It  sometimes  visits  the  Great  I>akes  in 
winter,  and  Dr.  Wheaton  writes  me  that  one  was  taken  near  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  in  Dec.  1876. 


*  Arctic  Zoology,  vol.  ii,  p.  559,  1785.     f  Catal.  Birds  of  Conn.,  p.  270,  184:!. 
:|:  Birds  of  Long  Island,  p.  .133,  1844. 


128  C  H.  Merrimn — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

255.  CEdemia    fusca  (Linne)  Swainson.  Velvet  Scoter;    White-winged 
Coot. 

It  is  extremely  abundant  on  the  Sound  during  fall  and  spring, 
some  remaining  through  the  winter.  Arrives  about  the  first  of 
October  (Oct.  4,  1876)  remaining  till  the  middle  of  May  (May  15,  Os- 
borne). Thousands  of  them  visit  the  coast  in  October  and  November, 
to  feed  on  the  small  shells  (chiefly  Mactra  lateralis)  which  the  shal- 
low muddy  bottoms  furnish  in  abundance.  And  in  this  connection 
it  may  be  stated  that  the  alimentary  canals  of  the  sea  ducks  afford 
the  conchologist  a  rich  collecting  ground,  often  yielding  unexpected 
treasures.  This  is  the  largest  of  our  ducks,  and  like  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  genus,  is  generally  considered  unfit  for  the  table,  but 
when  properly  prepared  and  well  cooked  they  are  by  no  means  bad 
eating.  Though  properly  marine,  it  occurs  on  the  Great  Lakes  in 
winter.  Dr.  Wood  has  taken  two  specimens  on  fresh  water  near 
East  Windsor  Hill,  Conn. 

256.  CEdemia  perspicillata  (Linne)  Stephens.  Surf  Duck;  Sea  Coot; 
Scoter. 

A  common  Avinter  resident,  l)eing  intermediate  in  numbers  iK'tween 
the  two  foregoing — that  is,  it  is  neither  abtmdant  nor  uncommon. 
Arrives  late  in  September  or  early  in  October,  remaining  till  the 
middle  of  April.  Captain  Brooks  writes  me  that  they  are  "  common 
through  fall,  winter  and  spring  "  in  the  vicinity  of  Faulkner's  Island, 
Conn.  I  saw  one  on  the  Sound  as  late  as  Jvine  29th  (1877),  and  I  am 
told  that  a  few  generally  remain  all  summer,  but  they  are  probably 
"pensioners"  (wounded  birds)  and  do  not  breed. 

257.  Erismatura  rubida  (Wilson)  Bonaparte.         Ruddy  Duck. 

It  is  not  rare  during  the  migrations.  Taken  by  Linsley  at  Strat- 
ford, Coini.  Found  both  on  fresh  and  salt  water.  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark, 
of  Saybrook,  tells  me  that  they  are  rather  common  about  the  mouth 
of  the  Comieeticut,  but  that  full  plumaged  l)irds  are  very  rare.  Dr. 
Crary  tells  me  that  one  was  shot  on  the  Connecticut  river,  near 
Hartford,  Conn.,  in  October,  1858. 

258.  MergUS  merganser  l.lnnc.         sheldrake;  Merganser. 

It  is  common  during  migrations ;  some  probably  wintering.  Fre- 
quents fresh  water  lakes  and  rivers  in  tlie  interior,  and  is  "found 
occasionally  about  Guilford  Harbor,  Conn."  (Capt.  lirooks),  but  is  not 


6.   //.   Mi  n  ill  III — liii'ils  iif' (\iniu<-tirii(.  |'j<.( 

eoiiiiiioii    on    suit    wiitiT.      lu'iiciiiis    into   A|.iil    (Apiil    17,  I  s7...  irmlr 
adult  sliot,  Saoi')- 

259.  MergUS  serrator  Linn.".  Ite.l-l.rcasl.d  McrKansor. 

A  conmion  migrant,  winliTino-  on  tlic  Sound.  (':i|.t:iin  Hrooks 
writes  mo  tliat  tlioy  are  "  {ilenty  during  winter  and  s|.iino- '\il.ont 
Faulkner's  Island,  C'oini.  Also  found  on  fresli  w;i1er.  IJeniains  into 
A]>ril  (April  14,  ls76,  Osborne). 

260.  MergUS  CUCUUatuS   Linn/'.  Hooded  ilersansor. 

A  winter  resident ;  not  ooniinon.  Linsley  obtained  two  specimens 
from  a  fresh  water  pond  near  Stratford,  Conn.,  and  Captain  IJrooks 
lias  one,  killed  at  Cuilford,  Conn.,  on  salt  water.  Mr.  W.  W.  Coc 
has  taken  it  during  the  migrations,  and  I  saw  one  in  November, 
1875.  Dr.  Wood  has  taken  it  near  p]ast  Wimlsor,  but  finds  it  rarely. 
Mr.  Sage  writes  me  that  one  was  killed  near  Middletown,  Conn., 
March  6th,  1876. 


Family,  SULID^. 

261.   Sula  bassana  Liime.         Common  (Tannet;  Solon  Goose. 

A  rare  winter  visitant.  Captain  Brooks  Avrites  me  from  Faulk- 
ner's Island,  that  he  has  "only  seen  two  specimens,"  one  of  which  is 
now  in  his  collection:  "It  was  killed  at  Guilford,  Conn.,  in  the 
spring,  about  ten  years  ago."  liinsley  took  it  at  Stratford,  Conn., 
and,  concerning  its  gastronomic  ])roclivities,  I'emarks:  "The  true 
Solon  Goose  killed  here,  which  I  presented  to  the  Yale  Nntiind  His- 
tory Society,,  had  in  its  stomach  a  bird,  and  in  the  stoinacli  of  the 
latter  was  also  a  bird — destruction  on  destruction.  Mr.  \\.  Silliman, 
Jr.,  and  Dr.  Whelpley,  who  oi)ened  the  stomacii,  obser\  cd  tliis  fad, 
as  the  former  gentleman  informed  me.  It  was  ]»reviously  sujiposed 
this  bird  lived  wholly  on  fishes."*  (Tiraud  saw  a  few  specimens, 
killed  about  Long  Island  and  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York  City.f 
Mr.  Kol)ert  Morris  tells  me  that  he  saw  an  adult  s])ecimen,  shot  otl' 
Branford  late  in  the  fall  of  1872  or  187.".  There  is  also,  in  a  res- 
taurant in  New  Haven,  a  mounted  e.xanijile  of  the  yoimg  of  the  Solon 
Goose,  killed  near  here  a  few  years  ago. 


*  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts.  vol.  .\liv.  Xo.  2.  p.  271,  April,  ISi::. 
f  Giraud's  Birds  of  Lonpr  Island,  p.  .'i-ir),  1841. 
Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Yoi/.  IV.  H  Aro. 


130  C.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Conneeticnt. 

262.  Sula  fiber  Linne.         Booby  Gannet. 

A  rare  or  accidentnl  visitor  from  the  South.  Linsley  took  it  at 
Guilford,  Conn.  It  has  been  taken  as  far  north  as  INfassaclnisetts  (in 
September).* 

Family,  PHALACROCORACID^E. 

263.  G-raculus  Carbo  (Linnu)  Gray.         Common  Cormorant ;  Shag. 

A  tolerably  common  winter  visitant.  Captain  Brooks  writes  me 
that  they  are  "  plenty  in  April  and  May  "  and  are  sometimes  seen  in 
fall.     Linsley  took  it  at  Stonington,  Conn. 

264.  G-raculus  dilophus  (Swainson)  Gray.     Double-crested  Cormorant. 

It  ocenrs  along  the  coast  dui'ing  fall  and  spring,  but  usually  not  in 
very  large  numl)ers,  though  Captain  Brooks  informs  me  that  he  "saw 
large  flocks  of  them  feeding  about  Faulkner's  Island,  Conn.,  in  the 
month  of  May,  1870,"  and  that  he  captured  tAvo  of  them.  Linsley 
had  a  specimen  fi-om  Stratford,  Conn.,  and  he  regaided  it  as  a  very 
rare  bird.  Mr.  W.  W.  Coe  has  a  specimen  in  liis  cabinet  which  he 
killed  on  tlie  Connecticut  River,  near  Middletown,  October  29th,  1875. 
While  out  duck-hunting  at  the  mouth  of  the  East  Haven  River, 
November  1 3th,  1875,  with  Mr.  Tliomas  Osl)orne,  we  saw  a  Cormorant 
which  I  judged  to  be  of  this  species.  In  speaking  of  the  Cormorants, 
in  New  England,  in  1G75,  .Tosselyn  observes:  "Though  I  cannot 
commend  them  to  our  curious  palats,  the  Indians  will  eat  them  when 
they  are  fley'd,  they  take  them  prettily,  they  roost  in  the  night  uj)ou 
some  Rock  that  lyes  out  in  the  Sea,  thither  the  Indian  goes  in  his 
Birch- CVmo?/?  when  the  moon  shines  clear,  and  when  he  is  come 
almost  to  it,  he  lets  his  Canow  drive  on  of  it  self,  when  he  is  come 
under  the  Rock  he  shoves  his  bout  ;il(>iig  lill  lie  come  just  under  tlie 
(Joniioraiifs  Avatchman,  the  rest  being  asleep),  and  so  soundly  do 
sleep  that  they  Avill  snore  like  so  many  l*igs;  the  Iiidi(tn  thrusts  up 
his  hnnd  of  a  siulden,  gras]n'ng  tlie  watchman  so  hard  i-ound  about 
his  neck  that  he  cannot  cry  out;  as  soon  as  he  hath  him  in  his 
Canov'  lie  wrings  off  his  head,  and  making  his  Cajioir  fast,  he  clani- 
bretli  to  the  top  of  the  Rock,  where  \\nlkiiig  softly  he  takes  them 
up  as  he  pleasetli,  still  Avringing  ofl' their  heads  ;  when  he  hath  slain 
as  many  as  his  Cauovi  c;iii  carry,  he  gives  a  shout  which  awaketh 
the  sui'viving  (Uyrmorants^  who  are  gone  in  an  instant. "f 


*  Pulnam,  in  Proceed.  Essex  Inst.,  vol.  i,  p.  221,  1856. 
f  .Tossolyn's  Two  Voyap^os  to  New  Kn<rlanfl,  p.  102.  107.^ 


C.  II.  Jferffditi — liin/s  of  Cimiiirtiriit.  \,i\ 

Family,  TACHYPETID^. 

265.  TachypeteS  aquiluS  (Limu')  Vioillul.  Frigate  I'eli.an;    M:m-.,f-w:ir 
Bird. 

All  rxtrc'iiu'ly  r:iiv  Mcridcntal  visitor  trt)m  iIk-  Soiitli.  IJiit  uiic 
iiist:UK-e  of  its  ocH-iinvnce  in  New  Eiinhiiid  lias  Ir'oii  ivconk-.l,  and 
tliat  was  i)ul)lislK'.l  in  the  Naturalist,  by  Mr.  Griiinoll,  nearly  two 
years  ago:  "The  oeeurrenee  of  Tuehypetes  aquiliis  in  Connecticut  is 
not  generally  known,  Long  Island  being,  np  to  this  time,  the  northern- 
most locality  on  record  for  this  bird.  A  female  of  this  sjtecies  was 
killed  at  Faulkner's  Island  in  this  State,  in  the  autumn  of  1859,  and 
is  now  in  the  collection  of  Captain  lirooks.  It  was  liovering  over 
the  island  when  shot."*  I  have  seen  this  specimen  in  Capt.  IJrooks's 
Cabinet. 

Family,  LARID^. 

266.  SterCOrariuS  parasiticus  (Briinu.)  Schaff.         Richardson's  Jaeger. 

A  rare  winter  visitor.  Linsley  gave  it  from  l]ridge])ort.  Conn.  I 
have  lately  seen  a  specimen  in  the  cabinet  of  Mr.  John  II.  Sage,  of 
Portland,  Conn.,  which  was  killed  at  that  place  in  the  fall  of  1870. 

267.  StercorariuS  Buffoni  (Boie)  Cones.         Long-tailed  Jaeger. 

A  rare  straggler  from  the  far  North.  Not  previously  recorde*! 
from  Connecticut.  I  have  just  received,  from  Mr.  Wm.  F.  Lane,  a 
beautiful  adult  specimen  of  this  Larine  plunderer,  which  he  shot  on 
the  Community  Lake  at  Wallingford,  Conn.,  August  30th,  187:3. 
Mr.  Lane  writes  me  that  he  was  out  sailing  on  the  lake,  with  his 
brother,  when  they  noticed  a  curious  bird,  unlike  any  they  had  ever 
before  seen.  "It  was  chasing  a  swallow,  which  it  soon  caught,  and 
then  lit  on  the  watei-  with  the  swallow  in  its  mouth,  and  commenced 
swimming  ai'ound  and  did  not  seem  to  be  very  wild."  Mr.  Lane 
then  went  ashore  for  his  gun,  and,  on  returning,  sailed  so  close  to  the 
bird  that  his  brother  was  obliged  to  splash  the  water  with  an  oar 
in  order  to  make  it  tiy,  and  as  it  rose  he  shot  it.  He  says :  "'I'he 
bird  was  alone  and  had  been  liyiug  around  the  lake  for  about  an 
hour  when  I  shot  it.  I  noticed  that  it  w^as  very  swift  on  the  wing, 
also  a  very  fast  swimmer.      It  did  not  seem  at  all  airaid  of  anyone." 

]sfoTE. — The  Pomarine  Jaeger,  iStercorarins  pomatorhinus  (Teni- 
minck)  Vieillot,  doubtless  occurs  as  a  rare  winter  visitant. 


*  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  ix,  No.  S,  p.  tTO,  Aug.,  187."). 


132  C.  H.  Merriarn — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

268.  Larus  marinus  Liune.         Great  Black-backed  Gull. 

A  winter  resident;  not  rare.  Linsley  records  it  from  Stratford, 
Conn.  During  January,  February  and  March,  one  frequently  sees 
two  or  three  Lams  marinus  iJying  about  the  Harbor  in  company 
with  the  common  Herring  Gulls. 

269.  Larus  argentatus,  var.  Smithsonianns  Coues.      Herring  Gull. 

An  abundant  winter  resident.  Arrives  from  the  North  in  October, 
remaining  till  April  or  May.  Have  seen  hundreds  of  them  together 
in  New  Haven  Harbor  in  February  and  March.  Mr.  Thomas  B. 
Osborne  has  seen  them  in  June  and  early  Septembei*,  and  a  few 
doubtless  spend  the  summer,  but  they  are  probably  young  birds  and 
do  not  breed.  Dr.  Wood  occasionally  finds  it  about  the  Connecticut 
River  above  Hartford.  On  June  29th,  1877,  I  saw  five  together  near 
Faulkner's  Island,  Conn.  Four  of  these  were  in  the  young  (gray) 
plumage,  while  one  was  white. 

270.  Larus  Delawarensis  Ord.       Ring-billed  Gull. 

Not  rare.  Linsley  found  it  at  Stonington,  Conn.  The  young  of 
this  species,  easily  recognized  by  having  "  a  broad,  subterniinal  band 
of  black"  across  the  tail  (Coues),  may  frequently  be  seen  in  winter 
associated  with  the  foregoing.  My  attention  was  first  called  to  it  by 
Mr.  E.  P.  Bicknell,  of  Kiverdale,  N.  Y. 

271.  Larus  tridactylus  Linne.         Kittiwake  Gull. 

Occurs  in  winter,  but  is  not  common.  Linsley  gave  it  from  Ston- 
ington, Conn.  Mr.  Osborne  has  seen  it  fioni  March  Sth  till  April 
14th. 

272.  Larus  atricilla  \A\\\\(:         Laughing  Gull. 

Not  common.  l*ossihly  a  few  l)rei'(l  on  some  of  the  islands  off 
our  coast.  Linsley  states  that  they  were  occasionally  killed  at  Ston- 
ington, Conn.  Mr,  Osborne  informs  me  that  he  saw  one  June  1st, 
1876. 

273.  Larus  Philadelphia  (Ord)  Gray.  Bonaparte's  Gull. 

Is  tolerably  common  in  fall.  Cai)lain  Urooks  writes  me  that  they 
are  "quite  conimon  about  Faulkner's  Island,  Conn.,  in  October  and 
November,"  and  that  he  occasionally  sees  them  "  with  Terns  at  Goose 
Island,  Conn.,   in  summer.''''      Linsley  states  that  he  "  obtained  an 


C.  II.  Miiuliiiii — I'tiiils  i>f  i'lHiiiictirul.  |:{:{ 

iii(li\  i<lu;il  of  this  Ix'.uit  ifiil  s|nTii's  dl'  mill,  Aiimisl  Isi,  |s}'_'.''  (p. 
-71.)  1  s;i\v  tlu'  iH'in.iiiis  dl"  one  tli.it  IkhI  liciii  killcl  in  N  uxciiilicr, 
IHTo,  iionr  New  llnvi'ii.  S|ii'fiiiR'iis  of  it  ;irr  also  in  tin-  fujlcctioiis 
of  W.  W.  Coc  niul  J.  11.  S:io-(.  „f  l»..rtl:m.l,  ('<.im.,  :m.l  Mr.  Win.  V. 
,  Lane  ^cinls  iiu'  a  s|nH'iiiU'ii  tVoiii  \\'alliiiL;rt'i'<l.  (Oiiii.,  stating  tliat 
cii»;lit  WHTc  si'c'ii  tlu'i-*'  ill  tlic  Tali  ol"  1S7I. 

Note. — Tlu'  l)urL;;()niasti'r  [Lki-hs  i/f((iictfs  ruiiiinicli)  may  sniiu-- 
tiiiK'S  occur  along  our  coast  as  a  rare  winter  visitant  tVdin  tlie  Norlii, 
but  I  have,  as  yet,  been  luiable  to  procure  satisfaetory  eviili'iice  i<\'  its 
presence  witliiii  our  limits,  althouiih  it  has  bet'ii  taki'ii  on  Lon-j;-  Islaiiil. 

274-  Sterna  hirundo  .Vuet.         Ooininon  Tem;   Wilson's  Torn;  Sea  Swallow. 

A  common  summer  resident  along  the  coast.  Captain  Uiooks 
informs  me  that  they  breed  ut  Goose  Island,  Conn.,  but  not  so  al»uii- 
dantly  :is  the  Roseate. 

275,  Sterna  macroura  Naunumn.         Arctic  Tern. 

A  rare  visitor  to  our  shores.  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark,  of  Saybrook,  Conn., 
writes  me:  "I  have  an  undoubted  specimen,  in  the  fall  pltnnage  of  the 
young  (as  described  by  Coues),  taken  here  last  season — never  cap- 
tured a  mature  bird." 

276.  Sterna  Dougalli  Mont.     (S.  paradisea  of  Authors.)*        Roseate  Tern. 

An  abundant  summer  resident.  Captain  Brooks  writes  me  that 
they  first  "make  their  appearance  about  the  middle  of  .May,  and 
commence  laying  about  the  first  of  June,  at  Goose  Island  (one  mile 
west  of  Faulkner's  Island,  Conn.),  where  they  breed  in  great  <puin- 
tities,  ifnot  disturbed."  Through  the  kindness  of  Captain  F.rooks  I 
have  recently  (June  29,  1877)  visited  Goose  Island,  and  have  thus 
been  permitted  to  witness  the  magnificent  aerial  evolutions  of  these 
beautiful  birds,  as  hundreds  of  them  swept  to  and  fro  over  oui-  luads, 
constantly  uttering  their  characteristic  cries.  They  wovdd  rise  high 
in  the  air  and  immediately  dive  to  the  water's  edge,  then,  suddenly 
turning,  would  sweep  over  the  island  and  settle  on  the  large  rocks  with 
which  it  is  bordered,  always,  as  the  Captain  remarked,  "keeping  their 
heads  to  the  wind'ard."  It  is  truly  a  splendid  sight,  and  one  well 
worth  going  many  miles  to  see.     As  they  cover  the  rocks,  almost 

*  See  Coues'  Birds  of  the  Northwest,  p.  688,  1874. 


134  G.  H.  Merriaiu — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

hiding  them  from  view,  their  jet-black  eaps  and  pearly  mantles  contrast 
nicely  with  the  yjure  white  under  parts  and  bright  red  legs.  The 
eggs  were  now  hatching  and  thousands  of  downy  young  covered  the 
island.  I  actually  caught  an  adult  female  entangled  in  the  weeds, 
among  which  their  eggs  are  deposited  with  little  attempt  at  a  nest. 
Where  the  weeds  were  particularly  thick,  forming  dense  mats,  the 
eggs  were  sometimes  placed  upon,  as  well  as  under,  them ;  we  found 
several  such.  Great  credit  is  due  Captain  Brooks  for  his  watchfulness 
over  this  little  colony:  but  for  him  they  would  long  since  have  been 
exterminated. 

277.  Sterna  superciliaris,  var.  Antillarum  Coues.       Least  Tem. 

Not  very  common.  Linsley  took  it  at  Stratford,  Comi.  Mr.  J. 
N.  Clark,  of  Saybrook,  Conn.,  tells  me  that  they  are  sometimes  quite 
abundant  there  during  the  migrations. 

278.  Sterna  fuliginosa  Gmelin.         Sooty  Tern. 

A  rare  visitor  fi-om  the  South.  The  claim  of  this  species  to  a  place 
among  the  birds  of  New  England  has  only  recently  been  established, 
the  only  authentic  instances  of  its  capture  having  been  published 
within  a  year.  In  a  late  number  of  the  "Bulletin,"  Mr.  H.  A.  Purdie 
says  that  Mr.  J.  N.  Clark  has  a  specimen  in  his  collection  "that  last 
summer  flew  against  the  side  of  the  steamboat  wharf  depot,  at  Say- 
brook,  Conn.  Stunned  by  the  concussion  it  fell  and  was  picked  up. 
It  had  been  noticed  for  [Several  days,  flying  about  the  mouth  of  the 
I'iver,  as  something  unusual."*  Professor  Sanborn  Tenney  states  that 
a  specimen  was  killed  as  fiir  inland  as  the  northwestern  corner  of 
Massachusetts  ("near  the  Hoosac  river")  in  September,  isTO.f  These 
two  are,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  the  only  ix'corded  instances  of  its  ca))- 
ture  in  New  England.  Mr.  Frederick  T.  Jencks,  of  Providence,  Iv.  I., 
writes  me  that  he  took  a  particularly  beautiful  specimen  at  Point 
Judith,  li.  I.,  last  fall.  Tlirough  the  kindness  of  several  friends  I  am 
enabled  to  add  Ave  Connecticut  exam[)les  to  those  given  above,  thus 
increasing  tlie  total  number  asi-ertaiued  to  have  occuned  in  New 
P]ngland  to  eight,  six  of  wljieli  were  killed  in  this  State.  Four  of 
these  I  have  myself  seen.  The  ciriMunstaiices  connected  with  the 
capture  of  these  s];ecimens  are  as  follows:  Two  adult  birds  killed 
themselves,  last  September  (18V6),  by  flying  against  the  lighthouse 


*  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club,  vol.  ii,  No.  1,  p.  22,  Jau.,  1877. 
f  Am.  Nat,  vol.  xi,  No.  4,  p.  24:5,  April,  1877. 


(J.  II.  M(rrl(iiii — liirds  of  Conim-diiit.  \\\:, 

tower  at  Faulkner's  Island.  On-  of  ihciu  is  now  in  liic  collcdiiiii  of 
Captain  O.  N.  Brooks,  ol' that  plaee;  Mr.  Kn)C'rt  C'oe,  of  Stitiiy  (  ictk. 
Conn.,  has  a  njountod  spccinuMi  wlncli  was  kilUMl  tlicrc  willi  a  stnnc, 
late  in  the  summer  (1870);  Mr.  Xoniian  Elmore,  ol'  ( Jr.iiili\ ,  Conn., 
has  just  sent  me,  for  examination,  a  bird  of  this  species  that  was 
taken  in  that  vicinity,  September  20th,  1ST6.  The  I{e\.  .1.  Howard 
Hand  Avrites  me  that  it  was  proeured  in  a  singular  place  and  niannei-; 
"It  was  knocked  down  with  a  stick  by  a  <j:;entlenian  who  was  nellinL; 
wild  pigeons.  He  first  saw  it,  I  think,  on  the  pigeon  poles.  He  ^oi 
it  alive,  but  of  course  coidd  not  get  it  to  eat,  and  after  keeping  il  t  wo 
or  tlu'ee  days  it  died."  This  and  the  one  killed  by  Elbert  Coe,  Est]., 
are  both  in  the  yonng-of-the-year  plumage,  as  describtMl  by  Cones.''' 
It  is  a  singular  fact  that  all  these  specimens  were  killed  last  fall,  and 
probably  all  in  September. 

279.  HydrOChelidon  lariforniis  (Linne)  Cones.  I'.lncU   Tcni:    Sliort- 

tailed  Tern. 

A  rare  visitor,  occurring  chiefly  in  fall.  Though  essentially  an 
inland  species,  it  is  sometimes  found  along  the  coast  during  migra- 
tions. Captain  Brooks  took  one  s})ecimen  near  Goose  Islaml,  Conn., 
about  twelve  years  ago — the  oidy  one  he  has  ever  seen.  ^Ii-.  George 
Bird  Grinuell  informs  me  that  his  brother  shot  a  bir<l  of  this  species, 
late  in  August,  near  Milford,  Conn. 

JloTE. — Several  species  of  Terns,  not  mentioned  above,  doubtless 
occur  within  our  limits.  Sterna  angllca  {aranca  of  Wilson),  S.  ant- 
tiaca  {acKflavida  of  Cabot),  S.  caspia  and  S.  regia  are  to  be  looked 
for  as  rare  visitors  from  the  South,  Avhile  S.  Forsteri  i)robably  occurs 
occasionally  in  fall-,  and  Xema  Sahlni  may^  lie  nu't  Avith  as  a  rare 
strao-ffler  from  the  North. 


"&&' 


Family,  PROCELLARIID^. 

280.   Cymochorea  leilCOrrhoa  (Vicillot)  Cones.     Leach'.s  Petrel. 

Tolerably  common  oft'  the  coast  in  sunnner,  but  is  more  frequently 
seen  outside  than  in  the  Sound.  I  am  informed  by  Ca]>tain  IJrooks 
that  it  is  "  occasionally  seen  during  the  sunnner  months  cruising  in 
the  vicinity  of  Faulkner's  Island."     Dr.  Crary,  of  Hartford,  Conn., 

*  Birds  of  the  Northwest,  p.  699,  1874. 


C.  H.  Merriam — Hirds  of  Connecticut. 

informs  me  that  one  was  sliot,  October  27th,  1857,  by  George  Meigs, 
on  the  Connecticut  River,  above  Hartford.  Since  writing  the  above 
I  have  twice  seen  it,  on  the  Sound,  in  the  vicinity  of  Faulkner's 
Mand,  and  near  New  Haven,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  a  few 
breed  on  some  of  the  islands  oft'  our  coast. 

281.  Oceanites  OCeanica  (Kuhl.)  Coues.         Wilson's  Petrel. 

Not  common  ;  occurs  off"  the  coast  in  summer.  Linsley  says  that 
he  has  seen  this  species  "not  only  in  our  Somid,  but  even  west 
of  Stratford,  and  sitting  quietly  upon  the  water,"  and  further 
states  that  he  once  caught  a  specimen  "at  sea,  by  floating  about  two 
hundred  feet  of  thread  in  the  aii",  against  which  it  flew,  and  thus 
became  entangled  and  taken."* 

282.  PuffinUS  major  Faher.         Greater  Sliearwater. 

Not  rare  in  winter  off"  the  coast,  but  generally  keeps  outside  the 
Sound.  Linsley  found  it  common  about  Stonington  in  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  State.  In  the  Museum  of  Wesleyan  University,  at 
Middletown,  is  the  head  of  a  bird  of  this  species  which  is  said  to 
have  been  killed  at  Granby,  Conn. 


Family,  COLYMBID^iE. 

283.  Colym.buS  torquatUS  Bnmn.         Loon;  Great  Northern  Diver.  . 

A  tolerably  common  winter  resident.  Arrives  from  the  North  in 
October,  remaining  till  April  or  JMay  (April  20,  1876,  Osborne).  I 
have  a  beautiful  specimen  killed  at  Branford,  Conn,,  April  23d,  1875, 
and  presented  to  me  by  Dr.  Wm.  H,  Ilotchkiss.  It  has  been  known 
to  breed  on  a  pond  at  Easthampton,  Conn.  (W.  G.  liuell). 

284.  ColymbuS  Septentrionalis  Linne.  Red-throated  Diver. 

A  common  winter  resident.  An-ivos  from  the  North  in  October, 
remaining  till  May,  and  Mr.  Nichols  informs  nu>  that  he  saw  one  as 
late  as  .Tune  2d  (1877),  Frequently  killed  by  gunners  while  duck- 
shooting  on  the  Sound,  but,  as  Captain  Brooks  writes,  "you  seldom 
get  one  with  the  red  throat." 


*  Am.  Jour.  Sei.  Arts,  vol.  xliv,  No.  2,    .  272,  April,  1843. 


(\  II.   Mirrliiiii — l>ii<ls  i)f  Cniniirt'icut.  \\\~ 

NoTK. —  Cohfiiihiis  Aritii-iis  m:iv  |itissil)lv  ncciii-  ns  :iii  cxI  rciiu'l  v 
raiv  winter  xisilor  IVkhi  tlir  Ini-  iiuiili,  luil  I  am  uiialpic,  as  yt't,  t«>  tiii<l 
suflicii'iil  evidc'iK'c  ol'  its  c-aptiiri'  within  oni-  limits,  allliouirli  llicrc  is 
a  s]»('('imoii  so  lal)<.'lU'<l  in  tlic  Muscinn  at  .Middlctuw  n.  I  tannni 
lu'lirxi'  tliis  t(>  l)t'  anytliin^  more  tlian  an  immatnrc  ( 'iih/iiilnis  sijifin- 
trioiiali,^^  witli  tlic  throat  tinned  with  hhick. 


Family,  PODICIPID^E. 

285.  Podiceps  CristatUS  (Limu-)  Latham.         Crested  Grebe. 

Tolerably  coninioii  durinn'  tlic  migrations  and  in  winter.  Kccorded 
by  Linsley  from  Stratford,  Conn.  W.  W.  Coo  and  J.  H.  Saijc  have 
each  specimens  of  this  species  taken  liere  in  winti'r.  Dr.  Wood,  of 
East  Windsor  Hill,  tells  me  that  he  has  had  hnt  four  specimens  from 
that  locality,  and  that  they  were  all  caught  by  hand  in  winter; 
having  alighted  in  the  snow  they  were  unable  to  rise. 

286.  Podiceps  griseigena,  var.  Holbolli  (Reinli.)  Coucs.        Iled-nccked 
Grebe. 

A  rather  rare  winter  resident.  Captain  Brooks  says  he  has  not 
seen  one  for  years.  Occurs  both  on  fresh  and  salt  water.  Linsley 
took  it  at  Stratford.  Mr.  J.  H.  Sage  has  a  specimen  which  he  took 
at  Saybrook,  Conn.,  February  23d,  1875.  Dr.  Wood  has  a  very 
handsome  specimen,  in  full  plumage,  shot  near  East  Windsor  some 
years  ago.  I  am  informed  by  Dr.  Crary,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  that 
one  was  shot  in  that  vicinity,  by  Jerry  Crocker,  October  19th,  1800. 

287.  Podiceps  COrnntUS  Latham.         Horned  Grebe. 

A  common  winter  resident.  Found  on  the  coast  as  wt'll  as  on 
lakes  and  ponds  in  the  interior.  Arrives  in  September  or  October, 
remaining  till  May. 

288.  Podilymbus  podiceps  (Linne)    Lawrence.         Pied-billed   Dabehick : 
Hell  Diver. 

A  summer  resident;  common  during  the  migrations.  Found 
chiefly  on  fresh  water,  but  is  not  rare  on  the  Sound.  Arrives  from 
the  North  in  September,  remaining  into  November  (and  a  few  may 
winter).  Mr.  Geo.  Bird  Grinnell  tells  me  that  it  breeds  within  the 
State. 
•Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Vol.  IV.  1«  ^^^'O-'  '^''- 


138  C.  IT.  Merriani — Bir<h  of  ConnectiCHt. 


Family,  ALCID^E. 

289.  Utamania  torda  (Linne)  Leach.  Razor-billed  Auk. 
A  rare  winter  visitor  in  the  Sound. 

290.  Mergulus  alle  (Linne)  Vieillot.         Sea  Dove ;  Dovekie. 

A  rare  winter  visitor  on  our  coast.  Prof.  G.  Brown  Goode  pub- 
lished the  first  authentic  record  of  the  capture  of  this  species  within 
the  limits  of  the  State.  He  states  that,  at  Middletown,  during  a 
severe  northeast  storm,  about  the  middle  of  November,  1871,'"  two 
individuals  were  captured  in  full  winter  plumage,  and  plump,  though 
with  empty  stomachs.  Their  occurrence  thirty  miles  inland  is  some- 
what remarkable.  Allen  records  the  capture  of  a  single  specimen  at 
Greenfield,  Mass.,  on  the  Connecticut,  and  Linsley  places  the  species 
among  the  bii-ds  of  Connecticut  on  the  strength  of  one  captured  near 
Martha's  Vineyard,"*  Mass.  Several  others  were  secured  at  Middle- 
town,  by  W.  W.  Coe  and  J.  H.  Sage,  during  this  same  storm  during 
which  Mr.  Goode's  wei"e  taken,  and  Mr.  Sage  has  still  another,  cap- 
tured there  November  25th,  1874,  in  a  gale.  One  was  taken  at  Say- 
brook  at  the  same  time.  Dr.  Wood,  of  East  Windsor  Hill,  showed 
me  a  specimen  of  this  species,  shot  near  Portland,  Conn.,  November 
10th,  1849.  Two  other  individuals  were  killed  on  a  pond  at  Walling- 
ford.  Conn.,  in  September,  1874,  by  Wm.  F.  Lane,  Esq.  It  is  occa- 
sionally taken  as  far  south  as  Egg  Harbor,  New  Jersey.f 

291.  LiOmvia  troile  (Linne)  Brandt.         Foolish  Guillemot ;  Murre. 

A  rare  winter  visitant  in  the  Sound,  though  common  enough  out- 
side. Captain  Brooks  took  one  near  Faulkner's  Island,  Conn.,  "about 
eight  years  ago." 

Note. — The  Great  Auk  {Alca  hnpefuiis  Linne),  supposed  now  to 
be  extinct,  was  fornieidy,  without  doubt,  a  winter  visitor  to  our  coast. 
Aside  from  the  three  species  of  Aleidoi  given  al)ove,  as  occurring 
within  our  limits,  several  others  have  been  found  still  farther  south 
and  may  be' looked  for  in  winter  off  Stonington,  Conn.,  and  perhaps 
even  in  the  Sound.  These  are:  Fratercida  Arctica,  Wria  c/rylle,  and 
Lomvia  arra. 

*  Am.  Nat.,  vol.  vi,  No.  1,  p.  49,  Jan.  1872. 

•)•  Bh-ds  of  East  Penn.  and  New  Jersey.     By  "Wm.  P.  Turnbull,  p.  48,  1869. 


C  H.  Merr'niia — lilrila  of'  ('luincrticKt. 


1:50 


B.  List  of  the  Finn  Hies  of  /iirds  now  fotnid  in  the  State  <»f  Conncc- 
tieut,  icith  the  nuniher  of  their  rejtresentative  specietf. 


TurditUv?, 

Saxicolidse, 

Sylviidie, 

Parida;, 

Sittidie 

CerthiidiB, 

Troglodj-tidie,  . 

AlaiididiP, 

MotacillidiB,   . . 

Sylvicolida?, 

Tanagrida?, 

llirundinidaj,   . 

Arupelidfe, 

VireouidjB, 

Laniida?, 

Fringillida?, 

Icterid*. 

Corvidie. 

Tyramiid£e,  ..- 
Caprimulgida?, 

Cypselidse, 

Trochilidse, 

Alcedinidie, . . . 
Cuculida?, 


SpccleB. 


1 
3 
3 
2 
1 
4 
1 
1 

34 
2 
6 
2 
5 
2 

32 
8 
3 

10 
2 
1 
1 
1 
2 


25 
2G 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
i  38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
43 
44 
45 
46 
47 


Pic'ida> 

Strigidiu 

Falcunidffi, 

Catliartida*, 

Cohmibida;, 

Tetraonida', . . 

Charadriidic, 

HaMiiatopodidie,  . . 
Rccurvirostrida?, . . 

Phalaropodidaj, 

Scolopacidio 

Tantalida;, 

ArdeidiB, 

Rallida;, 

Anatida?, 

Sulida?, 

PlialacrocoracidiV, 

Tach3'petida?, 

Laridaj. 

Procellariidaj, 

Colynibida?, 

Podicipida^, 

Alcidaj, 


Spec 


lex. 

8 

n 

15 

1 

2 
2 
6 
2 
1 
2 

24 
2 

8 

9 

32 


1 

14 

3 

2 

4 
3 


C.  Special  Lists,  giving,  in  tabular  form,  the  residents,  smmmr  and 

lointer  visitants,  migrants,  etc. 

(a.)  Summer  Residents. 

1.    iSpeeies  known  to  breed. 


1  Turdus  uiigratorius. 

2  Turdus  musteliuus. 

3  Turdus  fuscescens. 

4  Mimus  Caroliuensis. 

5  Harporhynchus  rufus. 

6  Sialia  sialis. 

7  Parus  atricapillus. 

8  Sitta  Carolinensis. 

9  Certhia  familiaris. 
"10  Troglodytes  aedon. 

1 1  Telmatodytes  palustris. 

12  Cistothorus  steilaris.* 

13  Mniotilta  varia. 

1 4  Parula  Americana. 

15  Helmitherus  vermivorus. 

16  Helminthophaga  pinus. 

17  Helminthophaga  chrysoptera.* 

1 8  Hehninthophaga  ruficapilla. 

19  Dendroeca  icstiva. 

20  Dendroeca  virens.* 


2 1  Dendroeca  casrulescens.* 

22  Dendroeca  Blackburnite.* 

23  Dendroeca  Pennsylvanica. 

24  Dendroeca  discolor. 

25  Dendroeca  pinus. 

26  Siurus  auricapiUus. 

27  Siurus  motaciUa. 

28  Geothlypis  trichas. 

29  Icteria  virens. 

30  Myiodioctes  raitratus. 

31  Myiodioctes  Canadensis.* 

32  Setophaga  ruticilla. 

33  Pyranga  rubra. 

34  Ilirundo  horreoruni. 

35  Tachyciueta  bicolor. 

36  Petrochehdon  lunifrons. 

37  Cotyle  riparia. 

38  Progne  purpurea. 

39  Ampelis  cedrorum. 

40  Vireo  olivaoeus. 


*  An  asterislc  placed  after  a  species  indicates  that  it  does  not  breed  abundantly. 


140 


C.  H.  Merrlam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 


41 
42 

43 
44 
45 
46 
47 
48 
49 
50 
51 
52 
53 
54 
55 
56 
57 
58 
59 
60 
61 
62 
63 
64 
65 
66 
67 
68 
69 
70 
71 
72 
73 
74 
75 
76 
77 
78 
79 
80 
81 
82 
83 
84 


87 


Vireo  gilviis. 
Vireo  tiavifrons.* 
Vireo  solitarius. 
Vireo  Noveboracensis. 
Carpodacus  purpureus. 
Chrysomitris  tristis. 
Passerculus  Savanna. 
Pooecetes  gramineus. 
Coturniculus  passerinus. 
Coturniculus  Henslowi.* 
Ammodromus  maritimus. 
Ammodromus  caudacutus. 
Melospiza  palustris. 
Melospiza  melodia. 
Melospiza  Lincolni.* 
Spizella  soeialis. 
Spizella  pusilla. 
Passer  domesticus. 
Euspiza  Americana,* 
Goniaphea  Ludoviciana. 
Cyanospiza  cyauea. 
Pipilo  erytlirophthalmus. 
Dolichonyx  oryzivorus. 
Molothrus  pecoris. 
Ageljeiis  plioeniceus. 
Sturnella  magna. 
Icterus  spurius. 
Icterus  Baltimore. 
Quiscalus  purpureus. 
Corvus  Americanns. 
Cyanurus  cristatus. 
Tyrannus  Carolinensis. 
M}'-iarchus  crinitus. 
Sayornis  fuscus. 
Contopus  virens. 
Empidonax  Traillii. 
Empidonax  minimus. 
Antrostomus  vociferus. 
Cliordeiles  Virginianus. 
Cha;tura  pelagica. 
Trochilus  colubris. 
Ceryle  alcyon. 
Coccyzus  erythrophthalmus. 
Coccyzus  Americanus. 
Picus  villosus. 
Picus  pubescens. 
Melanerpes  erythrocephalus.* 
Colaptes  auratus. 


89  Bubo  Virginianus. 

90  Scops  asio. 

91  Otus  vulgaris,  var.  Wilsonianus. 

92  Brachyotus  palustris. 

93  Sj'rnium  nebulosum. 

94  Nyctale  Acadica. 

95  Circus  cyaneus,  var.  Hudsonius. 

96  Accipiter  fuscus. 

97  Accipiter  Cooperi. 

98  Falco  communis.* 

99  Falco  sparverius.* 

100  Buteo  borealis. 

101  Buteo  lineatus. 

102  Buteo  Pennsylvanicus. 

103  Pandion  haliaetus. 

104  Haliaetus  leucocephalus.* 

105  Ectopistes  migratorius. 
lOG  Zena'dura  Carolinensis. 

107  Bonasa  umbellus. 

108  Ortyx  Virginianus. 

109  yEgialitis  vocifera. 

110  ^gialitis  meloda. 

111  Philohela  minor. 

112  Gallinago  Wilsoni.* 

113  Tetanus  semipalmatus.* 

114  Ereunetes  pusillus.* 

115  Tringoides  macularius. 

116  Actiturus  Bartramius. 

117  Ardea  herodias.* 

118  Ardea  virescens. 

119  Nyctiardea  grisea,  var.  niovia. 

120  Botaurus  minor. 

121  Ardetta  exilis. 

122  Rallus  longirostris. 

123  Rallus  elegans. 

124  Rallus  Virginianus. 

125  Porzana  Carolina. 

126  Porzana  Noveboracensis.* 

127  Porzana  .lamaicensis.* 

128  Gallinula  galeata. 

129  Anas  obscura. 

130  Aix  sponsa. 

131  Harelda  glacialis.* 

132  Sterna  hirundo. 

133  Sterna  Dougalli. 

134  Colymbus  torquatus.* 

135  Podilymbus  podiceps. 


2.  iSpecies  which prohahly  breed  occdslonally,  but  are  not  known  to  do  so. 


1  Mimus  polyglottus. 

2  Polioptila  ca^rulea. 

3  Lopliophanes  bicolor. 

4  Thryothorus  Ludovicianus. 

5  Dendroeca  cicrulea. 

6  Dendroeca  Dominica. 

7  Siurus  njBvius. 

8  Oporornis  forniosus. 

9  Pyranga  a>stiva. 

10  Stelgi<lo])teryx  serripennis. 

11  Cardinalis  Virginianus. 


12  Contopus  borealis. 

13  Empidonax  Acadicus. 

14  Spliyrapicus  varius. 

15  Ceuturus  (larolinus. 

16  Strix  tlanunca,  var.  Americana. 

17  Falco  columbarius. 

18  yKgialitis  Wilsonia. 

19  Totanus  solitarius. 

20  Sterna  superciliaris,  var.  Antillarum. 

21  Cyniochorea  leucorrhoa. 


C.  11.  Merrimu — l>ir<fs  of  i'lnniirtu-iit. 


141 


(n.)   Kksii)i;nt  Si-i:riics. 


1  Tiirdus  migratoriiis. 

2  Sialia  sialis.    ' 

3  Parns  atricapillus.* 

4  Sitta  Caroliuout^is.* 

5  Certhia  familiaris.* 

6  Ampelis  cerirorum. 

7  Carpodacus  purpureus. 

8  Chrysomitris  trlstis. 

9  Melospiza  melodia. 

10  Spizolla  sooialis. 

1 1  Passer  doniesticus.* 

12  Molotlirus  pecoris. 

13  Ageheus  plioenicous. 

14  Stnrnella  magna. 

15  Corviis  Americanus. 

16  Cyanurus  cristatus.* 

17  Ceryle  alcyon. 

18  Pious  villosiis.* 

19  Pious  pubescens.* 

20  Melauerpes  erytbrocephalus. 

21  Colaptes  auratus. 


22  Bubo  Virginiaiius.* 

23  Soo))s  asio.* 

24  Otus  vulgaris,  var.  Wilsmiianus.* 

25  J5raobyotus  pabistris.* 

26  Svrniuni  ncl>ulosuiii.* 

27  Nyctalo  Aoadioa.* 

28  Faloo  coinnuuiis. 

29  Faloo  coliuubarius. 

30  Faloo  sparverius. 

31  Buteo  borcalis. 

32  Buteo  lineatus. 

33  Buteo  Pennsylvauious. 

34  Ilaliaetus  leuoooephalus. 

35  Zenivdura  Carolinensis. 

36  Bonasa  umbcllus.* 

37  Ortyx  Virginiauus.* 

38  Pliilohela  niiuor. 

39  Anas  obsoura. 

40  llarelda  glaoialis. 

41  Larus  argeutatus,  var.  ISmitlisonianus. 


(c.)   Migrants  xot  known  to  ukeed. 

(Some  of  tbese  winter.) 


1  Turdus  Pallasi. 

28 

2  Turdus  Swainsoni. 

29 

2"Turdus  Swainsoni,  var.  Alioife. 

30 

3  Regulus  calendula. 

31 

4  Regulus  satrapa. 

32 

5  Anorthura  troglodytes,  var.  hyemalis. 

33 

6  Anthus  Ludovicianus. 

34 

7  Helminthophaga  peregriua. 

35 

8  Dendroeca  coronata. 

36 

9  Dendroeoa  striata. 

37 

10  Dendroeoa  oastanea. 

38 

11  Dendroeoa  maculosa. 

39 

12  Dendroeoa  tigrini. 

40 

13  Dendroeca  palmarum. 

41 

14  Siurus  nsevius. 

42 

15  Oporornis  agilis. 

43 

16  Geothlypis  Pbiladelpbia. 

44 

17  Myiodiootes  pusillus. 

45 

18  Passeroulus  prinoeps. 

46 

19  .Tunco  hyemalis. 

47 

20  Spizella  monticola. 

48 

21  Zonotriohia  albiooUis. 

49 

22  Zonotriohia  leucophrys. 

50 

23  Passerella  iliaca. 

51 

24  Scoleoophagus  ferrugineus. 

52 

25  Contopus  borealis. 

53 

26  Empidonax  flaviventris. 

54 

27  Sphyrapious  varius. 

55 

Aquila  chrysaetus. 

Squatarola  Helvetica. 

Charadrius  fulvus,  var.  Virginicus. 

./Egialitis  semii)almata. 

Hiiematopus  palliatus. 

Strepsilas  interpres. 

Itecurvirostra  Americana. 

Phalaropus  fulicarius. 

Maororhamphus  griseus. 

Tringa  minutilla. 

Tringa  maoulata. 

Tringa  fusoioollis. 

Tringa  niaritima. 

Tringa  alpina. 

Tringa  su))arquata. 

Tringa  canutus. 

Calidj-is  arenaria. 

Limosa  fedoa. 

Limosa  Iludsonioa. 

Totauus  melanolcucus. 

Totanus  flavipes. 

Totanus  solitarius. 

Tryngites  rufesccns. 

Numenius  longirostris. 

Nunienius  Iludsonicus. 

Numenius  borealis. 

Fulica  Americana. 

Anser  hyperboreus. 


*  Those  marked  with  an  asterisk  are  resident  individually,  while  the  others  are 
represented  here,  in  winter,  by  individuals  which  probably  breed  much  farther  north. 


142 


C.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 


56  Branta  bernicla. 

7;^ 

57  Branta  Canadensis. 

74 

57"  Branta  Canadensis,  var.  Hntchinsii. 

75 

58  Anas  boschas. 

76 

59  Dafila  acuta. 

77 

60  Chaulelasmus  streperus. 

78 

61   Mareea  Americana. 

79 

62  Querquedula  Carolinensis. 

80 

615  Querquedula  discors. 

81 

64  Spatula  clypeata. 

82 

65  Fuligula  marila. 

83 

66  Fuligula  affinis. 

84 

67  Fuligula  collar  is. 

85 

68  Fuligula  ferina,  var.  Americana. 

86 

69  Fuligula  vallisneria. 

87 

70  Bucep]iala  claugula. 

88 

7 1  Bucephala  Islandica. 

89 

72  Bucephala  albeola. 

90 

QEdemia  Americana. 

CEdemia  fusca. 

(Edemia  perspicillata. 

Erismatura  rubida. 

Mergus  merganser. 

Mergus  serrator. 

Mergus  cucullatus. 

Graculus  carbo. 

Graculus  dilopluis. 

Larus  tridactylus. 

Larus  atricilla. 

Larus  Philadelphia. 

Sterna  macroura. 

Sterna  superciliaris,  var.  Autillarum. 

Hydrochelidon  lariformis. 

Colyrabus  septentrionalis. 

Podiceps  cristatus. 

Podiceps  coruutus. 


(d.)  Winter  residents,  more  or  less  regular. 


1  Regulus  satrapa. 

2  Sitta  Canadensis. 

3  Anorthura  troglodytes,  var.  hyemalis. 

4  Eremophila  alpestris. 

5  Dendroeca  coronata. 

6  CoUurio  borealis. 

7  Pinicola  enucleator. 

8  Plectrophanes  nivalis. 

9  Spizella  monticola. 

10  Junco  hyemalis. 

1 1  Zonotrichia  albicoUis. 

12  Nyctea  Scandiaca. 

13  Astur  atricapillus. 

]  4  Archibuteo  lagopus,  var.  Sancti- 
Johannis. 

15  Tringa  maritima. 

1 6  Branta  bernicla. 

17  Branta  Canadensis. 

18  Dafila  acuta. 


19  Fuligula  marila. 

20  Fuligula  affinis. 

21  Bucephala  clangula. 

22  Bucephala  alboola. 

23  Harelda  glacialis. 

24  (Edemia  Americana. 

25  CEdemia  fusca. 

26  (Edemia  perspicillata. 

27  Mergus  serrator. 

28  Mergus  cucullatus. 

29  Graculus  carbo. 

30  Larus  marinus. 

31  Larus  argentatus. 

32  Larus  Delawareusis. 

33  Colymbus  torquatus. 

34  Colymbus  septentrionalis. 

35  Podiceps  cristatus. 

36  Podiceps  cornutus. 


(e.)  Winter  visitants,  more  or  less  irregular. 


1  Lophophanes  bicolor. 

2  Parus  Hudsonicus. 

3  Ampelis  garrulus. 

4  Loxia  leucoptera. 

5  Loxia  curvirostra,  var.  Americana. 

6  yEgiothus  linaria. 

7  Chrysomitris  pinus. 

8  Plectrophanes  Lapponicus. 

9  Passerculus  princeps. 

10  Zonotrichia  leucophrys. 

1 1  Hylotomus  pileatus. 

12  Picoides  Arcticus. 

13  Syrnimn  cinereum. 

14  Surnia  ulula,  var.  Hudsonia. 

15  Nyctale  Tengmalmi,  var.  Richardsoni. 

16  Aquila  chrysaetus. 


17  Cygnus  Americanus. 

18  Anser  hyperboreus. 

19  Bucephala  Islandica. 

20  Camptolivmus  Labradorius. 

2 1  Somateria  mollissima. 

22  Somateria  spectabilis. 

23  Sula  bassana. 

24  Stercorarius  parasiticus. 

25  Stercorarius  liuffoni. 

26  Larus  tridactylus. 

27  Puffinus  major. 

28  Podiceps  griseigena,  var.  llolbolli. 

29  Utamauia  torda. 

30  Mergulus  alle. 

31  Lomvia  troile. 


*  This  list  does  not  include  resident  species. 


C.  IT.  Merrlion — Hi  nix  of'  ('oinici-fli-iit. 


\\:\ 


(k.)   IiJKKiu  i.ak  Si  \imi;i;    N'ishants. 


Mimus  poh-glottns. 
Polioptila  Civrulea. 
Lophophaiies  bioolor. 
Dendroeca  ca'inilea. 
Dendroeca  Dominica. 
Oporornis  formosus. 
T^yranga  lestiva. 
Stelgidopter^yx  serripcnnis. 
Euspiza  Americana. 
Cardinalis  Virginianus. 
Corrus  ossifragiis. 
Milvulus  forficatlis. 
Empidonax  Acadicus. 
Ceuturus  Carolinus. 
Strix  fiammea,  var.  Americana. 


10  ("atliartcs  aura. 

17  .Vlgialitis  WilHonia. 

18  Ihi.s  falcinollu.y,  var.  OnJii. 

19  \h\^  alha. 

20  Ardca  egretta. 

21  Ardca  candidissima. 

22  Ardea  caTulea. 

23  Porzana  .lamaicensi.s. 

24  Porphvrio  Martinica. 

25  Sula  tibcr. 

26  Tachypetes  aquilus. 

27  Sterna  fuliginosa. 

28  Tlydroclielidon  lariforniis. 

29  C}-mocliorea  leucorrlioa. 

30  Oceanites  oceanica. 


(g.)  Rare  Accidkntal  Visitoks. 


1  Mimus  polyglottu-s. 

2  Polioptila  ca^rulea. 

3  Lophophanes  bicolor. 

4  Parus  Hudsonicus. 

5  Oporornis  formosus. 

6  Pyranga  testiva. 

7  Stelgidopteryx  serripennis. 

8  Ampelis  garrulus. 

9  CoUurio  Liulovicianus. 

10  Euspiza  Americana.* 

1 1  Cardinalis  Virginianus. 

12  Cory  us  ossifragus. 

13  Milvulus  forficatus. 

14  Hylotomus  pileatus. 

15  Picoides  Arcticus. 

16  Centurus  Carolinus. 

17  Strix  fiammea,  var.  Americana. 

18  Syrnium  cinereum. 

19  Surnia  ulula,  yar.  Hudsonia. 

20  Nyctale  Tengmalmi,  yar.  Ricliardsoni. 

21  Aquila  chrysaetus. 

22  Jilgialitis  "Wilsonia. 

23  Steganopus  "Wilsoni. 


24  Phalaropus  fulicarius. 

25  Limosa  Iludsonica. 

26  Ibis  falcinellus,  var.  Ordii. 

27  Ibis  alba. 

28  Ardea  egretta. 

29  Ardea  candidissima. 

30  Ardea  cwrulea. 

31  Porzana  Jamaicensis. 

32  Porphyrio  Martinica. 

33  Cygnus  Americanus. 

34  Bucephala  Islandica. 

35  Camptohcmus  Labradorius. 

36  Somateria  mollissima. 

37  Somateria  spectabilis. 

38  Sula  bassana. 

39  Sula  fiber. 

40  Tachypetes  aquilus. 

41  Stercorarius  parasiticus. 

42  Stercorarius  Buffoni. 

43  Sterna  fuliginosa. 

44  Utamania  torda. 

45  Mergulus  alle. 

46  Lomvia  troile. 


(h.)  Rare  axd  Irregular  Migrants. 


1  Passerculus  princeps? 

2  -(Egialitis  Wilsonia. 

3  Htematopus  palliatus. 

4  Steganopus  Wilsoni. 

5  Phalaropus  fulicarius. 

6  Tringa  subarquata. 

7  Limosa  fedoa. 

8  Limosa  Hudsonica. 

9  Numenius  borealis. 
10  Cygnus  Americanus. 


1 1  Anser  hyperboreus. 

12  Anas  boschas. 

13  Chaulelasmus  streperus. 

14  Fuligula  coUaris. 

15  Fuligula  ferina,  var.  Americana. 

16  Fuligula  vallisneria. 

17  Bucephala  Islandica. 

18  Sterna  macroura. 

19  liydrochelidon  lariforniis. 


*  Although  Linsley  gives  this  species  as  "very  common"  at  New  Haven  (in  1842), 
it  has  not  since  been  met  with,  either  by  myself  or  any  other  collector  in  tlie  State,  ."o 
far  as  I  am  aware.  Hence  T  am  forced  to  regard  its  occurrence,  at  present,  as  purely 
accidental,  and  this  without  doubting  Linsley's  statement  that  it  was  once  common. 
Indeed,  I  have  recently  seen  two  of  Linsley's  mounted  specimens. 


144 


C.  H.  Merrlam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 


D.  An  Analysis  of  Linsley's  "  (Jatalogue.'''' 

In  the  year  1843,  the  Rev.  Jaraes  H.  Linsley  pubhshed,  in  the  American  Journal  of 
Science  and  Arts,  "A  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Connecticut,  arranged  according  to  their 
natural  families.'"*  In  this  Catalogue  Mr.  Linsley  enumerates  302  species,  this  num- 
ber including  both  those  that  had  already  been  detected  within  our  limits  and  those 
whose  presence  he  thought  lilcely  (Judging  from  their  occurrence  in  contiguous  States) 
future  investigation  might  reveal.  He  lilcewise  included  the  introduced  and  domesti- 
cated species — such  as  the  California  Quail,  Pea  Cock,  Guinea  Fowl,  the  various  races 
of  the  domestic  Pigeon  (Columba  livia  Linne),  and  the  common  barn-yard  fowl, 
numbering  them  with  our  native  birds.  Many  species  are  given  twice,  and  some 
even  three  times,  the  immature  and  seasonal  plumages  having  been  mistaken  for 
distinct  species.  There  are  also  a  few  doubtful  forms,  and  at  least  two  had  been 
exterminated  before  his  paper  was  written. •)•  Hence  it  is  that  a  critical  examination 
of  this  list  at  once  enables  us  to  eliminate  63  species,  thus  reducing  the  total  number 
from  302  to  239.| 

(a.)  List  of  those  species  given  by  Linsley  in  his  ''  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of 
Connecticut, "  concerning  the  occurrence  of  which  he  probably  had 
sufficient  proof. 

1  Turdus  migratorius. 

2  Turdus  mustelinus. 

3  Turdus  Pallasi. 

4  Turdus  fuscescens. 

5  Mimus  polyglottus. 

6  Mimus  Carolinensis. 
1  Harporhynchus  rufus. 

8  Sialia  sialis. 

9  Regulus  calendula. 

10  Regulus  satrapa. 

11  Polioptila  cserulea. 

12  Lophophanes  bicolor. 

13  Parus  atricapillus. 

14  Sitta  Carolinensis. 

15  Sitta  Canadensis. 

16  Certhia  familiaris. 

17  Troglodytes  aedon. 

18  Anorthura  troglodytes,  var.  hyemalis. 

19  Telmatodytes  palustris. 

20  Cistothorus  stellaris. 

21  Eremophila  alpestris. 

22  Anthus  Ludovicianus. 

23  Mniotilta  varia. 

24  Parula  Americana. 

25  Helmitherus  vermivorus. 

26  Helminthophaga  ruflcapilla. 

27  Dendroeca  a3stiva. 

28  Dendroeca  virens. 

29  Dendroeca  cierulescens. 

30  Dendroeca  cserulea. 


31  Dendroeca  corouata. 

32  Dendroeca  Blackburniffi. 

33  Dendroeca  striata. 

34  Dendroeca  castanea. 

35  Dendroeca  Pennsjivanica. 

36  Dendroeca  maculosa. 

37  Dendroeca  tigrina 

38  Dendroeca  discolor. 

39  Dendroeca  palmarum. 

40  Dendroeca  pinus. 

41  Siurus  auricapillus. 

42  Siurus  nsevius. 

43  Geothlypis  trichas. 

44  Icteria  virens. 

45  Myiodioctes  mitratus. 

46  Myiodioctes  Canadensis. 

47  Setophaga  ruticilla. 

48  Pyranga  rubra. 

49  Pyranga  sestiva. 

50  Hirundo  horreorum. 

5 1  Tachycineta  bicolor. 

52  Cotyle  riparia. 

53  Progne  purpurea. 

54  Ampelis  cedrorum. 

55  Virea  olivaceus. 

56  Vireo  gilvus. 

57  Vireo  fiavifrons. 

58  Vireo  solitarius. 

59  Vireo  Noveboracensis. 

60  Collurio  borealis. 


*  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  vol.  xliv.  No.  2,  pp.  249-274,  April,  1843. 

+  Namely:  the  Wild  Turke}'^  {Meleagris  gallopavo)  and  the  Pinnated  Grouse  or 
Prairie  Chicken  ( Ciqndonia  cupido). 

1  The  collection  of  birds  given  by  Linsley  to  the  Yale  Natural  History  Society,  and 
kept  for  many  years  in  the  Yale  Medical  School,  has  recently  been  transferred  to  the 
Peabody  Muscimi  of  Yale  College. 


t\    II.    Ml  rriiliH — I'/'n/s  <>/'  <  '(unnctii-nt. 


14') 


61  I'inic'ola  eiuu'loator. 

(>2  Carpodacus  purpurous. 

C3  Loxia  ciirvirostra,  var.  AiiK'ricana. 

64  ^'Eg-iotluis  liiiaria. 

65  riirvsiiiiiitris  pimis. 

66  Chrvsoiiiitris  trislis. 

67  Plectrophancs  nivalis. 

68  Passerculus  Savanna. 

69  Pooecetes  gramineus. 

70  Ooturniculus  passerinus. 

71  Amniodrounis  niaritimus. 

72  Aniinodroiiiiis  t'aiulat'utiis. 

73  Melospiza  pahistris. 

74  Melospiza  melodia. 

75  Junco  hyemalis. 
7G  Spizella  monticola. 

77  Spizella  socialis. 

78  Spizella  pusilla. 

79  Zonotricliia  albicoUis. 

80  Zonotricliia  leucoitlirvs. 

81  Passerella  iliaea. 

82  Euspiza  Americana. 

83  Goniaphia  Ludoviciana. 

84  Cyanospiza  cyanea. 

85  Cardiualis  Yirginianus. 

86  Pipilo  ervthrophtlialmus. 

87  Dolichonyx  oryzivorus. 

88  Molotlirus  pecoris. 

89  Agelteus  ph<jeuiceus. 

90  Sturnella  magna. 

91  Icterus  spurius. 

92  Icterus  Baltimore. 

93  Scolecophagus  fcrrugineus. 

94  Quiscalus  purpureus. 

95  Corvus  Americanus. 

96  Corvus  ossifragus. 

97  Cyanurus  cristatus. 

98  Tyrannus  Carolinensis. 

99  Myiarchus  crinitus. 

100  Sayornis  fuscus. 

101  Contopus  borealis  ? 

102  Contopus  virens. 

103  EmpidonaxTraillii. 

104  Empidonax  minimus  (''  Acadicus"' 

1 05  Antrostomus  vociferus. 

106  Ghordeiles  Virginianus. 

107  Chiffitura  pelagica. 

108  Trochilus  colubris. 

109  Ceryle  alcyon. 

110  Coccyzus  erythrophthalmus. 

111  Coccyzus  Americanus. 

112  Hvlotomus  pileatus. 

113  Picus  villosus. 

114  Picus  pubescens. 

1 1 5  Sphyrapicus  varius. 

116  Centurus  Caroliuus. 

117  Melanerpes  erythrocephalus. 

118  Colaptes  auratus. 

119  Strix  tiammea,  var.  Americana. 

120  Bubo  Virginianus. 

121  Scops  asio. 

122  Otus  vulgaris,  var.  W.ilsonianiis. 

123  Brachyotus  palustris. 
Trans.  Conn.  Ac.\d.,  Vol.  IV. 


r_'t   Syrniuin  ciiicrcinii. 
12.')  Syrnium  ncbulosuni. 

126  Nyctea  Scandiat'a. 

127  Nyctalc  Acadica. 

12.S  Circus  cyaucus,  var.  iludsoiiiuij. 
12!)   Accipiter  fuscus. 

130  Falco  conununis. 

131  Palco  columbarius. 
l.!2  Falco  sparverius. 

133  Buteo  borealis. 

134  Buteo  lincatus. 

!:'>."»   Buteo  Pcnusylvanicus. 
i:U)  Arcliibuteo   lagopus,    var.   Sancti- 
Johannis. 

137  Pandion  haliaetus. 

138  Haliaetus  leucocephalus. 

1 39  Cathartes  aura. 

140  Ectopistes  migratorius. 

141  Zena^dura  Carolinensis. 

142  Bonasa  umbcllus. 

143  Ortyx  A'irginianus. 

144  Squatarola  Helvetica. 

145  Charadrius  fulvus,  var.  Virginicus. 

146  ^Egialitis  vocifera  ? 

147  ^'Egialitis  "Wilsonia. 

148  ^gialitis  semipalmata. 

149  ^gialitis  meloda. 

150  Hajmatopus  palliatus. 

151  Strepsilas  interpres. 

152  Steganopus  Wilsoni. 

153  Pliilohela  minor. 

154  Gallinago  AVilsoni. 

155  Macrorhamphus  griseus. 

156  Ereimetes  pusillus. 

157  Triuga  minutilla. 

158  Tringa  maculata. 

159  Tringa  fuscicollis. 

160  Tringa  alpina,  var.  Americana. 

161  Tringa  canutus. 

162  Calidris  arenaria. 

163  Limosa  fedoa. 

164  Limosa  Hudsonica. 

165  Totanus  semipalmatus. 

1 66  Totanus  melanoleucus. 

167  Totanus  fiavipes. 

168  Totanus  solitarius. 

169  Tringoides  macularius. 

170  Actiturus  Bartramius. 

171  Numenius  longirostris. 

172  Numenius  lludsonicus. 

173  Numenius  borealis. 

174  Ibis  falcinellus,  var.  Ordii. 
]  7  5  A  rdea  herodias. 

176  A  rdea  eandidissima. 

177  A  rdea  Cicrulea. 

178  Ardea  virescens. 

179  Nj'ctiardea  grisea.  var.  n;vvia. 

180  Botaurus  minor. 

181  Ardetta  exilis. 

182  Eallus  longirostris. 

183  Rallus  elegans. 

184  Rallus  Virginianus. 

1 85  Porzana  Carolina. 

]()  (X'T.,  1877. 


146 


C.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 


186  Porzana  Noveboracensis. 

187  Fulica  Americana. 

188  Cygnus  Americanus. 

189  Anser  hyperboreus. 

190  Branta  bernicla. 

191  Branta  Canadensis. 

1 92  Branta  Canadensis,  var  Hutchinsii. 

193  Anas  boschas. 

194  Anas  obscura. 

195  Dafila  acuta. 

196  Chaulelasmus  streperus. 

197  Mareca  Americana. 

1 98  Querquedula  Carolineusis. 

199  Querquedula  discors. 

200  Spatula  clypeata. 

201  Aix  sponsa. 

202  Fuligula  marila 

203  Fuligula  coUaris. 

204  Fuligula  ferina,  var.  Americana. 

205  Fuligula  vallisneria. 

206  Bucephala  elangula. 

207  Bucephala  albeola. 

208  Harelda  glacialis. 

209  Camptoisemus  Labradorius. 

210  Somateria  mollissima. 

211  Somateria  spectabilis. 

212  (Edemia  Americana. 


213  CEdemia  fusca. 

214  CEdemia  perspicillata. 

215  Erismatura  rubida. 

216  Mergus  merganser. 

217  Mergus  serrator. 

218  Mergus  cucullatus. 

219  Sula  bassana. 

220  Sula  liber. 

221  Graculus  carbo. 

222  Graculus  diloplius. 

223  Stercorarius  parasiticus. 

224  Larus  marinus. 

225  Larus  argentatus,  var.  Smithsonianua 

226  Larus  atricilla. 

227  Larus  Philadelphia. 

228  Sterna  liirundo. 

229  Stern;i  superciliaris.  var.  Antillaruni 

230  Oceanites  oceanica. 

231  Puffinus  major. 

232  Colymbus  torquatus. 

233  Colymbus  septentrionalis, 

234  Podiceps  cristatus. 

235  Podiceps  griseigena,  var.  HolboUi. 

236  Podiceps  cornutus. 

237  Podilymbus  podiceps. 

238  LTtamania  torda. 

239  Uria  grylle. 


(b.)  List  of  those  species  given  by  Linsley  in  his  "  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of 
Connecticut"  concerning  the  occurrence  of  avhich  he  did  not  have  suf- 
ficient PROOF. 


1 


Helmitherus  Swainsoni. 

2  Helminthophaga  chrysoptera. 

3  Dendroeca  Dominica. 

4  Oporornis  agilis. 

5  Petrochelidon  lunifrons. 

6  Ampelis  garrulus. 

7  CoUurio  Ludovicianus. 

8  Collurio  Ludovicianus,   var.  excubito- 

roides. 

9  Loxia  leucoptera. 

10  Quiscalus  major. 

11  Picoldes  Arcticus 

12  Accipiter  Cooperi. 

13  Recurvirostra  Americana. 

14  Lobipes  hyperboreus. 

15  Phalaropus  fulicarius. 

16  Tringa  maritiiiia. 

17  Tringa  subarquata. 


18  Totanus  chloropus. 

19  Tryugites  rufescens. 

20  Ardea  egretta. 

21  Gall  inula  galeata. 

22  Porphyrio  Martinica. 

23  Branta  leucopsis. 

24  Histrionicus  torquatus. 

25  Larus  Delawarensis. 

26  Larus  tridactylus. 

27  Rhynchops  nigra. 

28  Fulmarus  glacialis. 

29  Cymochorea  leucorrhoa. 

30  Puffinus  obscurus. 

31  Fratercula  Arctica. 

32  Mergulus  alle. 

33  Lomvia  troile. 

34  Lomvia  arra. 


(c.)  List  of  those  "species"  given  by  Linsley,  in  his  '^Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of 
Connecticut,"  which  represent  imm.\ture,  abnormal,  or  seasonal,  plumages 
OF  other  stated  species. 


Name  used  by  Linsley. 

1  Regulus  cristatus  =  tricolor. 

2  Sylvia  trochilus  =  lestiva. 

3  Sylvia  sphagnosa  —  Canadensis. 


Modern  Equivalents. 
Regulus  satrapa. 
Dendroeca  a^stiva. 
Dendroeca  coerulescens. 


C.  7f.  Merrill  III — Hlnls  of'  ('muD  I'llmt. 


147 


Name  used  btj  Linsley. 

4  S}-lvia  parvis  =  IMackbiirnijv. 

5  Sylvia  autuninalis  =  castanca. 

6  Sylvia  Rosroe  =  trichas. 

7  Friufrilla  auibiiiua  =  li'tenis  pecoris. 

8  Strix  Si-aiuliaca  =  Virji-inica  (alhinci)? 

9  Faloo  tcniernriiis  =  coluiiiliarius. 

10  Falco  buteoides  =  hycinaliss. 

11  Faleo  clirysaetos  ?  Linne  =  leiicoeeph- 

alus. 

12  Falco  Washlngtouiensis  =  leucoceph- 

ahis. 

13  Limosa  Edwardsii?  =  lliidsonia. 

14  Falligula  nigra  =  Americana. 

15  Phalaorot'orax  gracnlus  =  carlio. 

16  Larus  capistratiis  =  Bonapartii. 

17  Podiceps  minor  =  Carolinensis. 


Modern  Eijuivalents. 
Dcndnroa  Hlacklmrnia'. 
Dcndni'ca  oastanca. 
(lODthlypis  trii-lias. 
Moldtlinis  ijfooris. 
Hnln)  \'irgiiiianns. 
Kalco  i'olninliari\is. 
BnU'i)  lincatiis. 

1  laliaetus  leucocephaliis. 

Haliaetus  leucocephalua. 
Limosa  Iludsonioa. 
(Udomia  Americana, 
(iracnlus  carbo. 
Larns  Philadelphia. 
Podilymbus  podiceps. 


(d.)  List  of  Introduced  and  Domestic.vted  species  given  by  Linsley,  in  iiis 
^^ Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Connecticut.'''  which  scarcely  deserve  TO  BE  men- 
tioned among  our  Native  Birds. 


1  rolnmba  domestica  Linne. 

2  Pavo  cristatns  Linne. 

3  Nnmida  meleagris  Linne. 


4  Gallns  domestieu.s;  Linne. 

5  Lophort3'x  Californicns  Bonaparte. 

6  Anas  moschata  Willonghb}'. 


(e.)  List  of  those  species  given  by  Linsley  in  his  ^'Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Con- 
necticut,^' WHICH  were  either  EXTERMINATED  OR  DRIVEN  BEYOND  THE  St.VTE 
BEFORE  HIS  "CATALOGUE"  WAS  WRITTEN. 


1  Meleagris  gallopavo  Linne. 


2  Cnpidonia  Cupido  Baird. 


(f.)  List  of  those  species  given  by  Linsley  in  his  "Catatogue  of  tlie  Birds  of  Con- 
necticut," WHICH  were  inserted,  PROBABLY,  ON  ERRONEOUS  IDENTIFICATION. 

1  QuiscaluR  major  Yieillot.*  4  Larus  canus  Linne. 

2  Empidonax  Acadicus  (Graelin)  Baird.f     j  5  Larus  fuscu.s  Linne. 

3  Sylvia  flava  Linne.  1 


(g.)  List  op  those  species  given  by  Linsley  in  his  ''Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Con- 
necticut," THE  IDENTITY  OF  WHICH  I  HAVE  NOT  BEEN  ABLE  TO  DETERMINE. 


1  Sylvia  auricollis  Latham. 


2  Sylvia  flava  Linne. 


*  "  Probably  a  mistake."     Cones'  Birds  of  the  Northwest,  p.  204,  1874. 
f  Probably  E.  minimus. 


148  C.  IT.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

E.  List  of  the  Pi/hlications,  containing  JVotes  on  the  Birels  of  New 
England.,  to  v^hich  reference  has  been  made  in  the  foregoing 
Hevicm. 

A  Description  of  iSrew-P]ngland,  by  Captaine  lolin  Smitli.  Printed  at  London, 
IG16.     [Tract  ],  vol.  ii.] 

New  Englands  Trials.  Written  by  Captaine  John  Smith,  sometimes  Governour  of 
Virginia,  and  Admirall  of  New-England.  London.  Printed  by  William  lones. 
1622. 

New  England's  Plantation.  Or  a  Short  and  trve  description  of  the  commodities 
and  discommodities  of  that  Countrey. — Written  by  a  reuerend  Diuine  now  there 
resident.  London,  Printed  by  T.  C.  and  R.  C.  for  Michael  Sparke,  dwelling  at  the 
Signe  of  the  Blue  Bible  in  Greene  Arbor  in  the  little  Old  Bailey.  1630.  [Reprinted 
in  Peter  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  vol.  i.  Tract  12.] 

Gov.  Thomas  Dudley's  Letter  to  the  Countess  of  Lincoln,  March,  1631.  Printed  in 
full  in  Peter  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  vol.  ii,  Tract  iv.     Washington,  1838. 

New  English  Canaan;  Or  New  Canaan,  containing  An  Abstract  of  New  England. 
Composed  in  three  Bookes,  etc.  Written  by  Thomas  Morton,  of  Cliffords  Inn,  Gent. 
Upon  ten  Teers  Knowledge  and  Experiment  of  the  Country.  Printed  by  Charles 
Green.     1632.     [Reprinted  in  Peter  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  vol.  ii,  Tract  5.     1838.] 

New  Englands  Prospect.  A  true,  lively,  and  experimentall  description  of  that  part 
of  America,  commonly  called  New  England ;  discovering  the  state  of  that  Countrie, 
both  as  it  stands  to  our  new-come  English  Planters ;  and  to  the  old  Native  Inhabi  ■ 
tants.  Laying  downe  that  which  may  both  enrich  the  knowledge  of  the  mind-travel- 
ling Reader,  or  benefit  the  future  Voyager.  By  William  Wood.  Printed  at  London, 
etc.     1634. 

New-England's  Rarities  Discovered :  in  Birds,  Beasts,  Fishes,  Serpents,  and  Plants 
of  that  Country.  [Etc.]  By  John  Josselyn,  Gent.  London.  1672.  [Reprinted  in 
Archseologia  Americana,  vol.  iv,  pp.  133-238.] 

An  Account  of  two  Voyages  to  New-England,  etc.  By  John  Josselyn,  Gent.  The 
Second  Addition.  London.  Printed  for  G.  Widdowes  at  the  Green  Dragon  in  St. 
Pauls  Church-yard,  1675.  [Reprinted  in  Collections  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical 
Society,  vol.  iii,  3d  Series.     1833.] 

Travels  into  North  America;  containing  its  Natural  History,  and  a  Circumstantial 
Account  of  its  Plantations  and  Agriculture  in  general,  etc..  etc.  By  Peter  Kalm. 
Translated  into  English,  by  John  Reinhold  Forster,  F  A.S.     Vol.  ii.     London,  1771. 

Arctic  Zoology.     By  Thomas  Pennant.     Vol.  ii.     1785. 

The  History  of  New-Hampshire.  By  Jeremy  Belknap,  A.M.  Vol.  iii.  Boston, 
1791. 

The  Natural  and  Civil  History  of  Vermont.  By  Samuel  Williams,  LL.D.  Pub- 
lished according  to  Act  of  Congress.     Printed  at  Walpole,  New  Hampshire,  1794. 

A  Statistical  Account  of  the  County  of  Middlesex,  in  Connecticut.  By  David  D. 
Field.  Published  by  the  Connecticut  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  Middletown^ 
Conn.     Printed  by  Clark  &  Lyman.     April,  1819. 

American  Ornithology.     By  Alexander  Wilson.     Edinburgh,  1831. 


C  IF.  Mi'rri(()ii — lilnlx  of  ('i>)iiu rtlmt.  I  lit 

A  Miinual  of  the  ( h-nitlioloiiy  of  tlio  riiitcd  Stntos  ami  I'.-mail:!.  Hy  'riii.mnH  Nutt- 
all.     1S:!2. 

Report  on  the  Geology,  Mineralogy.  Hotaiiy,  and  Zoology  of  Massiiclmt-etls.  Made 
and  published  by  order  of  the  Government  of  that  State,  ete.  Hy  Ktlward  lliteheoek 
(Report  on  Birds,  by  Ebenezer  Emmons,  M.D.).     Amiierst,  183:?. 

The  Rirds  of  Xorth  America.     Hy  .Toiui  James  Audubon.     1H31-9. 

A  Report  on  the  Ornithology  of  Massachusetts.    By  William  li.  <».  TcalMKly.     IH!!!). 

Histor}-  of  Vermont,  Natural,  Civil,  and  Statistical.  In  three  ])arts,  witli  a  new  ma]) 
of  the  State,  and  200  engravings.  By  Zadoek  Thompson.  Hiu'lington:  Chauncey 
Goodrich,  1812.     Also  .Vjiiiemlix  to  same,  publislied  in  isf):!. 

A  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Connecticut,  ■■u-ranged  according  to  tlieir  natural 
families.  By  the  Rev,  James  H.  Linsley.  [Publislied  in  the  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and 
Arts,  vol,  xliv,  No.  2,  pp.  249-74,     April,  184:5,] 

The  Birds  of  Long  Island.     By  J.  P.  Giraud,  Jr.     New  York,  1844. 

The  Birds  of  Essex  County,  Mass,  By  V.  W .  Putnam.  [Published  in  Proceed. 
Essex  Inst.,  vol.  i,  pp.  201-81.    •185(5.] 

A  List  of  Birds  observed  at  Grand  Menan  and  at  Yarmouth,  N,  S,,  from  June  li;  to 
July  8,  1856.  By  Dr.  Henry  Bryant.  [From  the  Proceedings  of  the  Boston  S(3ciety 
of  Natural  History,  vol.  vi.     March,  1857.] 

Birds  of  North  America.  By  S.  F.  Baird.  [Vol.  ix  of  Pacific  Railroad  Rei)orts, 
1858.J 

Catalogue  of  the  Birds  found  at  Norway,  Oxford  County,  Maine.  By  A,  E.  Verrill. 
With  a  List  of  the  Birds  found  in  Maine  not  observed  at  Norway.  [From  Proceed- 
ings of  the  Essex  Institute,  vol.  iii.     18(!:5.] 

Catalogue  of  the  Birds  found  in  tlio  Vicinity  of  Calais,  Mame,  and  about  the  Islands 
at  the  Mouth  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy.  By  George  A.  Boardman,  [Edited  by  Prof.  A.  E. 
Verrill.]  [From  the  Proceedings  of  tlie  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History,  vol.  ix. 
Sept.,  1862.] 

Catalogue  of  the  Birds  found  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  with  notes  on  their  Migrations, 
Habits,  &c. ;  together  with  a  List  of  those  Birds  found  in  the  State  not  yet  observed 
at  Springfield.  By  J.  A.  Allen.  1864.  [From  the  Proceedings  of  the  Essex  Insti- 
tute, vol.  iv.  No,  2,  pp.  48-98.     July,  1864.] 

A  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Massachusetts.  By  E.  A.  Sanniels.  1864. 
[From  Massachusetts  Agricultural  Report.     186H.] 

Catalogue  of  Birds  found  in  the  vicinity  of  Waterville,  Kennebec  County,  Maine. 
By  Charles  E.  Hamlin.  [Printed  in  the  Tentli  Annual  report  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
Maine  Board  of  Agriculture,  pp.  168-173.     1865.] 

History  of  Lynn,  Essex  County,  Mas.«achusetts :  including  Lynuficld.  Saugus, 
Swampscot,  and  Nahant.     By  Alonzo  Lewis  and  James  R.  Newhall.     Boston,  1865. 

A  List  of  the  Birds  of  New  England.  By  Elliott  Coues,  Assistant  Surgeon  U.  S.  A. 
[Reprinted  from  the  Proceedings  Essex  Institute,  vol.  v.]  Salem,  Mass.  pp.  71. 
1868. 

The  Birds  of  East  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey.     By  William  P.  TunibuU.      isr.fl. 


150  (J.  H.  Merriam — Birds  of  Connecticut. 

A  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Coos  County,  N.  H.,  and  Oxford  County,  Maine.  By 
C.  J.  Maynard,  with  Notes  by  AVilham  Brewster.  Oct.,  1871.  [From  the  Proceed 
ings  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History,  vol.  xiv.     Oct.  18,  1871.     Repaged.] 

Key  to  Nortli  American  Birds.     By  Elliott  Cones.      1872. 

A  Partial  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Grand  Menan,  New  Brunswick.     By  Harold 
Herrick.     [From  the  Bulletin  of  the  Essex  Institute,  vol.  v,  Nos.  2  and  3.     1873.] 

The  Birds  of  Florida.     By  C.  J.  Maynard.     1873. 

A  History  of  North  American  Birds.     By  Baird,  Brewer  and  Ridgway.     1874. 
Birds  of  the  Northwest.     By  Elliott  Cones.     1874-5. 

The  Birds  of  New  p]ngland  and  Adjacent  States.     By  Edward  A.  Samuels.     Bos- 
ton, 1875. 

A  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  New  England.     By  Thomas  M.  Brewer.     1875. 

The  Naturalist's  Guide.     By  C.  J.  Maynard. 

The  Land  and  Game  Birds  of  New  England.     By  H.  D.  Minot.     Salem,  1877. 

American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts.     New  Haven. 

Proceedings  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History. 

Annals  of  the  Lyceum  of  Natural  Histoiy.     New  York. 

Proceedings  of  the  Essex  Institute. 

Bulletin  Essex  Institute. 

Bulletin  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zodlogy,  Cambridge. 

American  Naturalist.     Salem. 

Bulletin  of  the  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club.     Cambridge,   1S76-7. 

New  England  Farmer. 

Hartford  Times,  for  1861. 

Rod  and  Gun  =  American  Sportsman. 

Collections  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 

Report  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Maine  Board  of  Agriculture. 


INDEX. 


Abbott,  G.  C,  50. 
Acadian  Flycatcher,  58. 

"         Owl,  74. 
Accipiter  Cooperi,  78,  79,  140,  146. 

"         fuscus,  78.  140,  145. 
Actiturus  Bartrarnius,  109,  140,  145. 
iEgialitis  meloda,  102,  140,  145. 

"         semipalmata,  102,  141,  145. 
"         vocifera,  102,  140,  145. 
"         Wilsouia,  102,  140,  14H,  145. 
^giothus  linaria.  34,  35,  142,  145. 
Agelffius  phojniceus,  45,  140,  141,  145. 
Aiken,  Chas.  E.,  55. 
Aix  sponsa,  125,  140,  14G. 
Alaudida?,  11,  139. 
Alca  impennis,  4.  138. 
Alcedinidti?,  63,  139. 
Alcida?,  138,  139. 
AUeghanian  Fauna,  1,  2.  57. 
Allen,  Prof.  J.  A.,  5,  7,  19.  32,  46,  56,  66, 

74,  77,  82,  88,  93,  98,  112,  113,  138,  149. 
American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts,  2, 

27,   49,    51,   65,   70,   72,  90,  91,  99,  103, 

107,   108,   110,   112,  115,  116,  121,  124, 

129,  136,  149,  150. 
American  Naturalist,  2,  10,  12,  14,  19,  22, 

23,  25,  35,  50,  53,  54,  65,  77,  81,  82,  83, 

84,   85,   92,   93,  110,  114,  120,  126,  131, 

134,  138,  150. 
Amherst,  Mass.,  149. 
Ammodromus  caudacutus,  38,  1-1  o.  145. 
"  maratimus,  38,  140,  145. 

Ampelidae,  32,  139. 
Ampelis  cedrorum,  32,  139,  141,  144. 

garrulus,  32,  142,  143,  146. 
Amtman  Bouke,  29. 

"         Witkovvski,  28. 
Analidaj,  120,  139. 
Anas  boschas,  123,  142,  143,  146. 

"     moschata,  147. 

■'     obscura.  123,  140,  141,  146. 
Anisopteryx  pometaria,  42. 

■'  vernata,  42. 

Anorthura  troglodytes,  var.  hyemalis,  11, 

141,  142,  144. 
Anser  hyperboreus,   121,   141,    142,    143, 

146. 


Aiitluis  Ludovicianus,  12,  111,  144. 
Antrostomus  vociferu.s,  59,  140. 
Apache,  Camp,  Arizona,  ''5. 
Archibuteo  lagopus,  var.  Sancti-Johannis, 

87,  142,  145. 
Arctic  Owl,  73. 

"      Tern,  133. 
Ardea  casrulea,  111,  143,  145. 

"      Canadensis,  1 13. 

"      candidissima.  111.  N3,  145. 

"      egretta,  111,  143,  146. 

"      herodias,  110,  140,  145. 

"      virescens.  111,  140,  145. 
Ardeidffi,  110.  139. 
Ardetta  exilis,  113,  140,  145. 
Aquila  chrysaetus,  89,  141,  142,  143. 
Astur  atricapillus,  79,  142. 
Audubon,  John  James,  54,  55.  76,  92,  96, 

97,  99,  108,  149. 
Auk.  Great,  4,  138. 

"     Razor-billed,  138. 
Avocet,  103,  107. 
Ayres,  Dr.  Wm.  0.,  65,  67,  92,  106. 


Bagg,  Clinton  L.,  51. 

Baird,  Prof.  Spencer  F.,  26,  35.  37,  43,  55, 

65,  88,  126,  149. 
Baird's  Sandpiper,  107. 
Haldpate  Duck,  124. 
Haltic,  28. 

Baltimore  Oriole,  46. 
Bank  Swallow,  31. 
Barn  Owl,  66. 

■'     Swallow,  28. 
Barnacle  Goose.  121. 
Barrat,  Dr.,  1 10. 
Barred  Owl,  70,  71. 
Barrow's  Golden-Eye,  126. 
Barry,  John,  70. 
Baitramian  Sandpiper,  lli9. 
Bay-breasted  AVarbler,  16. 
Bav-winged  Hunting,  37. 
BaV  of  Fund}',  149. 
Bee  Bird,  49. 
Beers,  Mr.,  35. 
Beers,  William,  1 20. 
Beaver  Swamp,  33. 


152 


Benner,  Franklin,  34. 

Bennett,  C.  W.,  82,  83. 

Berlin,  Conn.,  70. 

Belted  Kingfisher,  G3. 

Bicknell,  Eugene  P.,  15,  '23,  25,  26.  31,  U, 

54,  132. 
BischofE,  57. 
Bittern,  American,  112. 

"       Least,  113. 
Black-and-yellow  Warbler,  17. 

"     -and- white  Creeper,  12. 

"     -backed  Three-toed  Woodpecker,  64. 

"     -bellied  Plover,  102. 

"     -billed  Cuckoo,  <;3. 

"     bird.  Boat-tailed,  48. 
"      Crow,  46,  89. 

"       "      Red-winged,  45. 

"       •'      Rusty,  46. 

"     Brant.  121. 

"     Duck,  123. 

"     Hawk,  87,  88. 

"     -poll  Warbler,  16. 

"     Rail,  119. 

"     Scoter,  127. 

"     Tern,  135. 

"     -throated  Blue  Warbler,  15. 

•'  "        Bunting,  43. 

"  "        Green  Warbler,  15. 

Blackburn,  Mrs.,  127. 
Blackburnian  Warbler,  16. 
Blue-bill  (Duck),  125. 

"   -headed  Yireo,  33. 

"   Heron,  Great,  110. 

"         "       Little,  HI. 

'•   Golden-winged  Warbler,  14. 

"   Jay,  49. 

"   -winged  Teal,  1 24. 

"    Yellow-backed  Warbler,  12. 

•'    -winged  yellow  Warbler,  1,  14. 

■'    -gray  Gnatcateher,  8. 
Belknap,  "Jeremy,  9,  113,  148. 
Birds  of  the  Northwest,  Coues,  5,  17,  22, 

58,   67,    77,   92,   98,   105,   116,  124,  133, 

135,  147,  150. 
Bluebird,  8,  19,  30,  41. 
Beuers,  4. 
Bob  White,  100. 
Bohemian  Waxwing,  32. 
Bonaparte's  Gull,  132. 

"  Sandpiper,  106. 

Bonasa  umbellus,  100,  140,  141,  145. 
Bonke,  Amtinan,  29. 
Boinare,  Vehnont  de,  42. 
Boardman,  George  A.,  44,  55,  84,  92,  9.3, 

149. 
Bobolink,  145. 
Bool)y  Gannett,  130. 
Boston,  Mass.,  3,  43,  70,  72,  73. 
Boslwick,  Thomas,  44. 
Botaurus  minor,  112,  140,  145. 
Bowie,  Camp,  Arizona,  55. 
Brachyotus  palustris,  70,  110,  HI,  145. 
Bragg,  Luther  C,  14,  23. 


Brants,  4. 
Brant  Goose,  121. 
Branta  bernicla,  121,  142,  146. 
"      Canadensis,  122,  142,  146. 
"  "  var.  Hutchiusii,   122, 

142,  146. 
Branta  lencopsis,  121,  146. 
Brandigee.  J.  S.,  70. 
Branford,  Conn.,   14,   104,  105,   113,   120, 

129,  136. 
Brandebourg,  42. 
Bridgeport,  Conn.,  103,  131. 
Bridport,  Vermont,  (JO. 
Brewer,  Dr.  Thos.  M.,  3.  6,  12,  26,  35,  37, 

43,  55,  57.  58,  70,  105,  106,  119,  150. 
Brewster,  William,  3,  7,  9,  10,  13,  17,  21, 

23,  25,  33,  49,  54,  58,  65,  126,  150. 
Broad-bill,  125. 
Brooks,  Capt.  0.  N.,  3,  4,  5.  32,  67,  81,  82, 

102,   103,    106,   109,   111,  121,  122,  123, 

124,  125,   126,   128,   129,   130,  131.  132, 

133,  134,  135,  136,  137,  138. 
Brookline,  Mass.,  10. 
Brown  Creeper,  10. 

Thrush,  8,  24. 
Brown,  Samuel,  127. 
Bryant,  Dr.  Henry.  149. 
Bubo  Virginianus,'67,   140.  141,  145.  147. 
Bucephala  albeola.  126,  142,  146. 
clangula,  126,  142,  146. 
Islandica,  126,  142,  143. 
Buil-breasted  Sandpiper,  109. 
BufHe-headed  Duck,  126. 
Bull-bat,  59. 
Bulletin  of  the  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club, 

2.  5,  9,  10,  11,  12,  15,  16,  17.  20,  27,  31, 

33,   36,  37,  46,  49,   50,  65,  69,  72,  113, 

115,  119,  121,  134,  150. 
Bunting,  Bay- winged,  37. 

Black-throated,  43. 
•'         Snow,  36. 
'•         Towhee,  44. 
Buell,  W.  G.,  136. 
Burgomaster  Gull,  132. 
Burlington,  Vt.,  149. 
Burrage,  Thomas,  46. 
Butcher  Bird,  33,  34,  50. 
Buteo  borealis,  85,  140.  141,  145. 

"     hyemalis,  87. 

"     lineatus,  86.  140,  141.  145,  147. 

"     Pennsvlvanicus,  87.  140.  141,  145. 
Butter-ball,  V26. 
Buzzard,  Turkey,  91-92,  96. 

C. 

Cabot,  Mr.,  54,  70. 

Ca?rulcan  Warbler,  15. 

Calais,  Maine,  44,  55,  92,  93,  149. 

Calidris  arenaria,  107,  140,  145. 

California  Quail,  144. 

Calve's  Island,  Conn.,  101. 

Cambridge,  Mass.,  3.  13,  31,  33,  49,  54.  78. 

Camj)  Apache,  Arizona,  56. 


INDKX. 


ir,.) 


Camp  Howie,  Arizona,  5;"). 

Caiiiptolienins  Laln-ailorius.  rj7,  112,  143, 

14(). 
Canada  Goose,  122. 

"       Jaj',  1. 
Canadian  Fauna,  1,  2.  57. 
Canvas-baek  Duck,  12G. 
Cape  Cod,  Mass.,  100,  120. 

"     May,  New  Jersev,  54. 

"         "     Warbler,  17. 
CaprimulgidsB,  59.  l.'ii). 
Carmel,  Mt.,  (near  New  Haven),  ('onn.,  :i4, 

5:i. 
Cardinal  Grosbeak,  44. 
Cardinalis  Virginianus,  44,  140,  14:'.,  145. 
Carolina  Dove,  98. 
'•        Rail,  116. 
"         Wren,  11. 
Carolinian  Fauna,  1,  2. 
Carpenter,  C.  M.,  8,  50. 
Carpodacus  purpureus,  34,   140,  1-11,  145. 
Cat-bird,  8,  9,  24. 
Catesby,  47. 
Catbartes  atratus,  93. 

"         aura,  91.  143,  145. 
Cathartidaj,  91.  i:'.9. 
Cedar  Bird,  32. 

Certhia  familiaris,  10,  50,  139,  141,  144. 
Certhiidffi,  10,  139. 

Centunis  Carolinus,  65,  140,  143,  145. 
Ceryle  alcyon,  63,  140,  141,  145. 
Ciuetura  pelagica,  59-62,  140,  145. 
Charadriida;,  102.  139. 
Charadrius    fulvus,  var.  Virginicus,    102, 

141,  145. 
Charles  River,  Mass.,  31. 
Chat,  Yellow-breasted,  1,  24. 
Chaulelasmus  streperus.  124,  142, 14:'.,  146. 
Cherry  Bird,  32. 
Cliestnut-sided  Warbler.  17. 
Chewink,  44. 

Chickadee,  Black-capped,  8,  9. 
"  Iludsonian,  10. 

Tufted,  9. 
Cliicken  Hawk,  7s. 
Chimney  Swallow,  60,  61 

"      '  Swift,  59-62. 
Chipping  Sparrow,  39,  40. 
Cliordeiles  Virginianus,  59,  140,  145. 
Chrysomitris  pinus,  34,  35,  142,  145. 

"  tristis,  36,  140,  141,  145. 

Circus  cyaneus,  var.   Hudsonius,  75,  140, 

145. 
Cistothorus  stellaris,  11,  i:!9,  144. 
Clapper  Rail.  115. 
Clark,  J.  N.,  3,  6,  7,  12,  13,  14,  15,  17,  20, 

21,  22,  23,  25,  26,  35,  37,  38,  52,  64,  65, 

70,   89,  91,  92,  102,  109,  115,  119,  123, 

128,  133,  134. 
Clark,  Samuel  Fessenden,  156. 
Clark's  Island,  Mass.,  119. 
Cliff  Swallow,  30. 
Coast  Range,  California,  57. 

Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Vol.  IV. 


Coccyzus  Aniericanns,  <;:'.,  140,  145. 

"         ervthropiitlialnui.'*,  63,   140,  145. 
Cock,  Pea,  i44. 
Cod,  ("ape,  Mass.,  10(i,  ]•><'>. 
Coc,  Klbcrt,  135. 

Coe,  W.  W.,  3,  4,  6,  7,  11,  12,  14,  15.  17, 
27,  30,  34,  35,  36,  37,  38,  39,  4(».  4.'i,  4K, 
50,  52,  59,  63,  64,  65,  66,  68,  74,  77.  78, 
80,   83,   84,   85,   86,   87,  88,  89,  9.3,  102, 
103,    104,    105.    106,    1((7,  108.  109.  110, 
111,   112,    113,    114,   118,  119,  121.  125, 
129,  130,  13.3,  137,  138. 
Colaptes  auratus,  65,  66,  140,  141,  145. 
Collins,  Saiiuiel,  46. 
CoUurio  borealis,  33,  142,  144. 

"         Ludovicianus,  34,  14,3,  146. 
"  ■'     var.  excubitoroides,  146. 

Coluralja  domestica,  147. 

"         livia.  144. 
Columbia  River,  57. 
Columbida^^,  9:!,  139. 
Columbus,  Ohio,  127. 
Colymbid*,  136,  139. 
Colymbus  Arcticus,  137. 

■'       septentrionalia,  136.  137,  142,  146. 
Colymbus  torquatus,  i:i6,  142,  146. 
Common  Cormorant,  130. 
Common  Gannet,  120. 
"        Coot,  120. 
"        Tern,  133. 
"        Yellowbird,  :i6. 
Concord,  Mass.,  7,  10. 
Connecticut  River,  106.  107,  121,  123,  125, 

127,  128,  130,  132,  136. 
Connecticut  A'alley,  3,  11,  14,  17,  22,  24, 

25,  28,  33,  37,  44,  58,  113. 
Connecticut  Warbler,  21. 
Congannick  Ponds,  1 1 . 
Contopus  borealis,  53-7,  140,  141,  145. 

•'         virens.  58,  140,  145. 
Cooper,  W.,  54. 
Coopers  Hawk,  78,  79. 
Cooper,  Dr.,  57,  98. 
Coot,  Common,  120. 
"      Gray,  127. 
"      Sea,  128. 
"      White-winged,  128. 
Copenhagen,  57. 
Cormorants,  4. 

"  Common,  130. 

"  Double-crested,  130. 

Corvus  Americanus,  48,  49.  140,  111.  115. 
"      corax,  5. 

"      ossifragus.  49,  143,  145. 
Coturnicuhis  Henslowi.  37,  140. 

"  passerinus,  37,  140,  145. 

Cotyle  riparia,  31,  139,  144. 
Coues,  Dr.  Elliott,  5,    1 7,  20.   22,   2::,   25, 
35,  42,  48,  55.  56,  58,  65,  67,  77,  88,  92. 
93,    98,    105,    107.    108,    115,    119,    124, 
126,  132,  133,  1:55,  147,  149,  150. 
Cow-bird,  45. 
Corvidie,  48,  139. 
20  Oct.,  1877. 


154 


INDEX. 


Cranes,  4,  81,  113. 
Crane,  Sand-hill,  113-15. 

"       Whooping,  113. 
Crary,   Dr.   D.,   3,  9,   14,  17,  G5,  lOG,  109, 

111,  128,  135,  137. 
Creeper,  Brown,  10. 

"         Black-and-white,  12. 
Crested  Grebe,  137. 
Crocker,  Jerry,  137. 
Cromwell,  Conn.,  92. 
Crossbill,  Red.  1,  35. 

"         White-winged,  1,  35. 
Crow  Blackbird,  46,  48,  89. 
"     Common,  48,  86. 
"     Fish,  49. 
Cnekoo.  Black-billed.  63. 

Yellow-billed,  63. 
Cuculidte,  63.  139. 
Cupidonia  cupido,  4,  100-1,  147. 
Curlew  Sandpiper,  106. 

"       Eskimo,  109. 

"       Hudsonian,  109. 

"       Long-billed,  109. 
Curtis,  Lucius,  127. 
Cyanospiza  cyanea,  44,  140,  145. 
Cyanurus  cristatus,  49,  140,  141,  145. 
Cygnus  Americanus,  4,  120,  142,  143,  146. 

''      buccinator,  4,  120,  121. 
Cymochorea  leucorrhoa,  135,  140,  143,  146. 
Cypselidaj,  59,  139. 


Dabjchick,  Pied-billed,  137. 
Dafila  acuta,  123,  142,  146. 
Dall,  Wm.  H.,  114. 
Danby,  Vermont,  31. 
Dantzick,  28. 

Dayan,  A.  J.,  3,  11.  17,  20,  23,  30,  31,  38, 
40,   45,  49,   66,  110,  111,  112,  115,  120, 
124. 
Deane,  Ruthven,  54,  72. 
Deep  River,  Conn.,  89. 
Demarara,  91. 
Dendroeca  sestiva,  15,  139,  144,  146. 

"         Blackburnise,  16,  139,  144,  147. 

"         cajrulea,  15,  140,  143,  144. 

"         cserulescens,  15,  139,  144,  146. 

"         castanea,  16,  141,  144,  147. 

"         coronata,  16,  18,  141,  142,  144. 

"         discolor,  17,  139,  144. 

"         Dominica,  17,  140,  143,  146. 

"        maculosa,  17,  141,  144. 

"         palmarum,  18,  19,  40,  141,  144. 

"         pinus,  18-20,  139,  144. 

"         Pennsylvanica,  17,  139,  144. 
striata";  16,  141,  144. 

"         tigrina,  17,  141,  144. 

"         virens,  15,  139,  144. 
De.xter,  Prof.  Franklin  B.,  4. 
Didlacken,  29. 
Diuedoppers,  4. 
Diver.  Oreat  Northern,  136. 
"       Ked-tliroated,  136. 


Dolichonyx  oryzivorus,  45,  140,  145. 
Domestic  Pigeon,  144. 
Double-crested  Cormorant,  130. 
Dove,  Carolina,  98. 
"      Turtle,  98. 
"      Sea,  138. 
Dovekie,  138. 
Downy  Woodpecker,  64. 
Dresser,  H.  E,  40,  41. 
Duck  Hawk,  81-3. 
Ducks,  4,  91,  123-9. 
Duck,  Baldpate,  124. 

"      Barrow's  Golden-eye,  126. 

"      Black,  123. 

"      Black  Scoter,  127. 

"      Blue-bill,  125. 

"         '•    -winged  Teal,  124. 

"      Broad-ljill,  125. 

■'      Buffle-head,  126. 

'•      Butter-ball,  126. 

"      Canvas-back,  126. 

'•      Eider,  Common,  127. 

"         "       King,  127. 

"      Gadwall,  124. 

"      Golden-eve,  126. 

"      Gray,  124. 

"      Coot,  127. 

"      Greater  Scaup,  125. 

"      Green-winged  Teal,  124. 

"      Hooded  Merganser,  129. 

"      King  Eider,  127. 

"      Labrador,  127. 

''      Lesser  Scaup,  125. 

"      Long-tailed,  126. 

"      Mallard,  123. 

"      Merganser,  Common,  128. 
Hooded,  129. 

"  '•  Red-breasted,  129. 

'■      Old  Squaw,  126. 

"        "   Wife,  126. 

"      Pied,  127. 

"      Pintail,  123. 

'•      Pochard,  125. 

"      Red-breasted  Merganser,  129. 
"    -head,  125. 

"      Ruddy,  128. 

"      Ring-necked,  1 25. 

"      Scaup,  Greater.  125. 

"  "      Lesser,  125. 

"      Scoter,  Black,  127. 

"  "       Common,  128. 

"  "      Velvet,  128. 

"      Sea  Coot,  128. 

"      Sheldrake,  128. 

"      Shoveller,  124. 

■'      Spoon-bill,  124. 

"       Sprigtail.  123. 

"      Surf,  128. 

"      Summer,  1 25. 

"      Tcnl,  Blue-winged,  121. 

"         "      Green-winged,  124. 

'■      Wliistler,  126. 

"      White-winged  Coot,  128. 


INDKX. 


155 


Duck,  Widgeon.  124. 

"      Wood,  rJ5. 

'•      Velvet  Scoter,  VIS. 
Dudley,  Gov.  Thomas,  9:5,  U8. 
Dunlin.  116. 


Eagles,  4.  89-90,  96,  97. 
Eagle,  Bald,  S9. 
"      Golden,  90. 
"       Washington's,  90. 
Eastford,  Conn..  15. 
Easthampton,  Conn.,  l.'iC. 

"  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  G7,  106. 

"  Mass..  2:5,  53,  100. 

East  Hartford,  Conn..  106. 
"     Haven,  Conn.,  74. 
'•         "         River,  Conn.,  90,  121.  ISO. 
"     Humboldt  Mt.,  Nevada.  57. 
"     Lyme,  Conn.,  103. 
"     Windsor  Hill,  Conn.,  2,  3,  35,  52,  64, 
65,  71,  72,  73,  74,  78,  80,  82,  83, 
87,   92,    111,    120,    12],    123,    124, 
125,  128,  129,  137,  138. 
Eaton.  Prof.  Daniel  C,  53. 
Eave  Swallow,  30. 

Ectopistesmigratorius,  5,  9,  93-7,  140,  145. 
Egg  Harbor,  New  Jersey,  54,  138. 
Eider  Duck,  Common,  127. 

"         "        King,  127. 
Elizabeth,  New  Jersey,  9,  85. 
Elmore.  Norman,  135. 
Ely,   Josiah  G.,    3,  9,   11,   16,  23,  39,  76, 

103,  106,  109. 
Emmons,  Dr.  P^benezer,  24,  73,  149. 
Empidonax  Acadicus,  58,    140,  143,   145, 
147. 
'•  flaviventris,  59,  ]41. 

"  minimus.  59,  140,  145,  147. 

"  Traillii,  58,  140,  145. 

Enfield,  Conn.,  17,  37. 
English  Sparrow,  18,  19,  .34,  40-3. 
Eremophila  alpestris,  11,  142,  144. 
Ereunetes  pusillus,  105,  140,  145. 
Erismatura  rubida,  128,  142,  146. 
Eskimo  Curlew.  109. 
European  Woodcock,  1 04. 
Euspiza  Americana,  43,  140,  143,  145. 
Eutainia  saurita,  86. 


Falco  columbarius,  83,  140,  141,  145,  147. 

"      communis,  81,  140,  141,  145. 

''      chrysaetus,  147. 

"      buteoides,  147. 

"      hyemalis,  147. 

''      leucocephalus,  147. 

"      sparverius,  84,  !40,  141,  145. 

'■      temerarius,  147. 

"      Washingtoniensis,  147. 
Falcon,  Peregrine,  81. 
Falconidse,  75.  139. 
Falligula  Americana,  147. 


Falligula  nigra.  147. 

Faulkner's   Island,  Conn.,   .<,  5,  32,  67,  HI, 
102,    103,    1(16,    1(19,    112,  121.  123,  12«. 
I2(i,    128,    129,    13(J,    131.  132,  13.3,  135, 
136,   138. 
Fermiers  gcnoraux,  28. 
Field.  David  D.,  98,  101,  148. 
Field  Sparrow,  19,  39-40. 
Finch,  Grass,  37.        t 
"      Lincoln's,  .'{8. 
•'      Pine,  35. 
"      Purple,  34. 
"      Seaside,  38. 
"      Sharp-tailed,  38. 
Fish  Crow,  49. 
"     Hawk,  88-9. 

"     Head,  Grand  Menau  Island,  N.  B.,  83. 
Fisher,  A.  K.,  23. 
Flicker,  65,  66. 
Flint,  Harry,  89. 
Flycatcher,  Acadian.  58. 

"  Great-crested,  50-2. 

"  Least,  59. 

"  Olive-sided,  53-7. 

•'  Pewee,  Common,  52. 

"  "        Wood,  58. 

"  Swallow-tailed,  50. 

"  Train's,  58. 

"  Tyrant  (see  King-bird). 

"  Small  Green-crested,  58. 

"  Wood  Pewee,  58. 

"  Yellow-bellied,  59. 

Foolish  Guillemot,  138. 
Fort  Bridger,  Utah,  56. 
"     Randall,  Dakota,  92. 
"     Steilacoom,  W.  T.,  57. 
Fox-colored  Sparrow,  43. 
Forster,  John  Reinhold.  28,  30,  148. 
Framingham.  Mass.,  119. 
Franklin,  Dr.,  48. 
Fratercula  Arctica,  138,  146. 
Frigate  Pelican,  131. 
Fringilla  ambigua.  147. 
FringiUidse,  34,  139. 
Frith- Haff,  28. 
Florida  Galhnulo,  119. 
Fulica  Americana,  120.  141,  146. 
Fuligula  affinis,  125,  142,  146. 

"         collaris,  i25,  142,  143,  146. 

"         ferina,  var.  Americana,  125,  142, 

143,  146. 
"         marila.  125,  142,  146. 

vallisneria,  126,  142,  143,  146. 
Fulmarus  glacialis.  146. 

G 

Gadwall.  124. 

Gallinago  Wilsoni,  105,  118,  140,  145. 
Gallinula  galeata.  119,  140,  146. 
Gallinule.  Florida.  119. 

Purple,  119,  120. 
Gallus  domesticus,  147. 
Gambel,  Dr.,  57. 


156 


INDEX. 


Gannet,  Booby,  130. 

"        Common,  129. 
Gentry,  Thomas,  20,  42. 
GeothhT)is  Philadelphia,  22,  23-4,  141. 
"  "        triehas,  5,  23,  139,  144,  147. 
Geyser  Basin,  Lower,  Wy.  Ter.,  114. 
Gilpin,  John,  67. 
Giraud,  J.  P.,  Jr.,  9,  23,  32,  37,  43,  65,  77, 

102,  106,  110,  127,  128,  129,  149. 
Glossy  Ibis,  110. 
Gnatcatcher,  Blue-gray,  8. 
Godwit,  Great  Marbled,  107. 

"        Hudsoniau,  107. 
Golden-crested  Kinglet,  8. 
"      -crowned  Thrush,  20. 
"      Eagle,  89. 
"      -e_ye,  Barrow's,  126. 
"         "     Common,  126. 
"      Plover,  102. 
"      -winged  Woodpecker,  66. 
Goode,  Prof.  G.  Browne,  3,  43,  138. 
Goodwit,  107. 

Goose  Island.  Conn.,  81,  132,  133,  135. 
"      Black,  121. 
"      Brant,  121. 
"      Canada,  122,  123. 
"      Hutching,  122. 
"      Snow,  121. 
"      Solon,  129. 
"      Southern,  122. 
"      Wild,  122. 
Goniaphea  cserulea,  43. 

"  Ludoviciana,  43,  140,  145. 

Goshawk,  79-81. 
Gowing,  John,  46. 
Geese.  4,  91,  121-3. 
Grackle,  Boat-tailed,  48. 

"         Purple  (see  Crow  Blackbird). 
"         Rusty,  46. 
Graculus  carbo,  130,  142,  146,  147. 

dilophus,  130,  142,  146. 
Granby,  Conn..  84,  135,  136. 
Grand"  Menan   Island,  N.  B.,  43,   70,    83, 

149,  150. 
Grass  Finch,  37. 
Gray-cheeked  Thrush,  7. 
"    Coot,  127. 
"    Duck,  124. 
Great  Auk,  4,  138. 
"      Black -backed  Gull,  132. 
"      Blue  Heron,  110. 
"      Carolina  AVren,  1 1 . 
''      -crested  Flycatcher,  50-2. 
"      -footed  Hawk.  81,  82. 
"      Gray  Owl.  70. 
"      Horned  Owl,  67-9,  70,  76. 
"      Marbled  Godwit,  107. 
"      White  Kgret,  111. 
"      Northern  Diver,  136. 
Greater  Scaup  Duck,  125. 
"        Shearwater,  136. 
"       Yellow-legs,  108 
Grebe,  Crested,  137. 


Grebe,  Horned,  137. 

Pied-billed,  137. 

"       Red-necked,  137. 
Green,  Charles,  88,  148. 
Greene,  S.  Eliot.  10. 
Green  Heron,  111. 

"      -shanks,  108. 

"      -winged  Teal,  124. 
Greenfield,  Mass.,  138. 
Gregg,  Dr.  W.  II.,  55. 
Grinnell,  George  Bird,  3,  7,  11,  13,  16,  23, 

30,  34,  36,  37,  39,  44,  45,  46,  59,  64,  66, 

80,   81,    87,    90,   92,   98,    107,    108,   109, 

110,   111,   113,   114,    118,  119,  120,  121, 

122,  123,  124,  125,  127,  131,  135,  137. 
Gripes,  4,  91. 
Grosbeak,  Cardinal,  44. 
Pine.  34. 
"  Rose-breasted,  43. 

Grouse,  Pinnated,  4,  100-1. 

"       Rutfed,  100,  101. 
Grus  Americana,  4,  113. 

"      Canadensis,  4,  113-15. 
Guilford,  Conn.,   32,    102,   122,   125,   128, 

129,  130. 
Guillemot,  Foolish,  138. 
Guinea  Fowl,  144. 
Guls,  4. 
Gull,  Bonaparte's,  132. 

"     Black-backed,  Great,  132. 

"     Burgomaster,  132. 

"     Great  Black-Backed,  132. 

"     Herring,  132. 

"     Kittiwake,  132. 

"     Laughing,  132. 

"     Ring-billed,  132. 

H 

Haddington,  Penn.,  73. 

Htematopodida?,  103,  139. 

Hsematopus  palliatus,  103,  141,  143,  145. 

Hairy  Woodpecker,  64. 

Haliaetus  Icucocephalus,  90,  140,  141,  145, 

147. 
Hall,  Dr.  Franklin  W.,  3,  7,  21,  25,  26,  37, 

52,    62.   63,    65,    73.    74,    102,    103,    105, 

106,  108. 
Hamdeu  (near  New  Haven),  Conn.,  25,  80. 
Hamlin,  Prof.  Chas.  E.,  55,  149. 
Hand,  Rev.  J.  Howard,  92,  93,   109,   125, 

128,  135. 
Harelda  glacialis   126,  140,  141,  142,  146. 
Harporhynchus  rufus,  8,  24,  139,  144. 
Harrier,  Mnr.sh,  75. 
Hartford,  Conn.,  3,  9,   10.    11,  14,  17,  32, 

37,  43,  46,  50,  63,  (;5,  66,  67,  73,  80,  81, 

89,   106,   109,    111,   121,    123,    127,    128, 

132,  135,  136,  137. 
Hartford  Times  (for   1861),   2,  68,  72,  75, 

76,  78,  79,  SO,  82,  87,  88,  150. 
Haukes,  4. 

Hawks.  3,  45,  49,  75-97. 
Hawk,  Black,  87,  88. 


157 


Hawk,  Hroad-winged.  87. 
Chicken,  78-9. 
"       Cooper's.  78-9. 
"        Duck,  81-:i. 
"        Fish,  88-9. 
"        Gos-,  79-81. 
"        Heu,  85-6. 
"        Marsh,  75-6. 
"        Mouse,  75-G. 
'•        Peregrine,  81-H. 
"        Pigeon,  8:5-4. 
"        Red-shoul(k>red,  86-7,  78,  84. 

"    -tailed.  (JS,  69,  78,  85-6. 
"        Rough-legged,  87-8. 
''        Sharp-shinned,  78. 
"       Sparrow,  84-5. 
"       Winter,  87. 
Hawk  Owl,  73. 
Harden,  F.  V.,  24. 
Hazen,  Richard,  94. 
Hell  Diver,  l.!7. 
Helminthophaga  ceUita,  15. 

"  chrysoptera,  14,  139,  146. 

"  peregrina,  14,  141. 

"  pinus,  14,  139,  144. 

"  ruficapilla,  1'^,  139. 

Helmitherns  vermivorus,  12-3,  130.  144. 

"  Swain  soui,  146. 

Hen  Hawk,  85-6. 

"    Mud,  120. 
Henry's  Pond,  ilass.,  120. 
Henshaw,  H.  W.,  56,  57,  58,  98. 
Henslow's  Sparrow,  37. 
Heron  Swamp,  88,  111,  112. 
Heron,  Great  Blue,  110. 
"      White,  111. 
Green,  111. 
Little  Blue,  111. 

'•      White,  111. 
Night,  89,  112. 
Yellow-crowned  Night,  112. 
Herrick,  Harold,  43,  83,  150. 
Herring  Gull,  132. 
Hermit  Thrush,  6. 
High-holder,  66. 
Hilton,  William.  4. 
Hirundinid;e,  28,  139. 
Hirundo  horreorum,  28.  139,  144. 
Histrionicus  torquatus.  146. 
Hitchcock,  Edward.  24,  73,  99,  149. 
Hockanum,  Hartford  County,  Conn.,  106. 
Holyoke,  Mt..  Mass.,  82,  99. 
Hooded  Warbler,  1,  25. 
"        Merganser,  129. 
Hoosac  River,  Mass.,  134. 
Horned  Grebe,  137. 

'■       Lark,  11. 
Hotchkiss,  Dr.  Wm.  H.,  3,  4,  120,  136. 
Housatonic  River,  Conn..  90,  92,  116,  118 

122. 
House  Sparrow,  40-3. 
"       Swallow,  60,  61. 
•'      Wren,  10. 


Hud.>Jon's  Bay,  7.t,  1()7,  111,  121. 
lludsdiiian  Curlew.  I0!». 
Gddwit.  107. 

•'  Titmouse,  1(1. 

"  Chickadee,    10. 

Humphrey,  K.  C,  63. 
Hoy,  55. 

Ilutchin's  Goo.se,  122. 
llylotomus  pileatu-s  5,  63,  142,  143,  145. 
Hydrocliclidon  lariforniis,  135,  1 12,  143. 


Ibis  alba,  110.  143. 

''    falcinellus.  var.  Ordii,  IKi,  1  13.  145. 

"    (ilossv,  110. 

"    White,  110. 
Icteria  virens,  24-.5,  139,  144. 

"  "       var.  longicauda.  24. 

Icteridffi,  45,  139. 
Icterus  Baltimore,  46,  140,  145. 

"         spurius,  46,  140,  145. 
Idaho  Springs,  Colorado,  56. 
Indigo  Bird,  44. 
Ipswich  Sparrow,  36. 


Jack  Snipe,  106. 
Jaeger,  Long-tailed,  131. 

"       Pomarine,  131. 

"       Richardson's,  131. 
Jay,  Blue,  24,  49. 

Jencks,  Frederick  T.,  9,  27,  50,  134. 
Jones,  Rev.  C.  M.,  15.  73. 

•'      William,  148. 

"      Mr.,  111. 
Josselyn,   John,   45,  49.  63,  93,  99,   130, 

148. 
Junco  hyemalis,  39,  141,  142,  145. 


Kalm.  Peter,  28,  29,  47,  48,  66,  148. 

Kalmia,  25. 

Kentucky  Warl)ler,  22-3. 

Key  to  North  American  Birds,  (Coues),  5. 

Kildecr  Plover,  89,  102. 

King-bird.  49,  5t),  90. 

"     Eider,  127. 

"     Rail,  115. 
King.  William,  64. 
Kingfisher.  Belted,  63. 
Kinglet,  Golden-crested,  8. 
"        Ruby-crowned.  8. 
Killingworth,  Conn.,  37. 
Kite,  Swallow-tailed,  5,  76-7. 
Kittiwake  Gull,  132. 
Kleskow,  29. 
Klein,  28. 
Knot,  107. 
Kosiulo,  Jacob.  29. 


Labrador  Duck,  127. 
Lagopus  albus,  73. 


158 


INDEX. 


Lake  Tahoe,  57. 

"     Whitney,  7.  6a. 
Land  Key,  Fla.,  108. 
Lane,  Wm.  F.,  131,  133,  138. 
Laniidtc,  3;-!,  139. 
Lannar,  85. 
Lannaret,  79.  85. 
Lapland  Longspur,  36. 
Large-billed  Water  Thrush,  1,  20-1. 
Lark,  Horned,  11. 

"     Meadow,  45. 
Laridfe,  131,  139. 
Larus  argentatus,  var.  Smith.soniauus,  132, 

141,  142,  146. 
Larus  atricilla,  132,  142,  146. 

"      Bonapartii,  147. 

"      canus,  147. 

"      capistrat'is,  147. 

"      Delawarensis,  132,  142,  146. 

"      fuscus,  147. 

"      glaucus,  133. 

"      marinus,  132,  142,  146. 

"      Philadelphia,  132,  142,  146,  147. 

"      tridactylus,  132,  142,  146. 
Laughing  Gull,  132. 
Laurel,  25. 
Least  Bittern,  113. 

"      Flycatcher,  59. 

"      Sandpiper,  106. 

"      Tern,  134. 
Leach's  Petrel,  135. 
Lehndorf,  28. 
Lesser  Red-poll,  33. 
'■      Scaup  Duck,  125. 
"      Yellow-legs,  108. 
Lester,  Milton,  7. 
Lewis,  Alonzo,  47,  73,  149. 
Limosa  Edwardsii,  107,  147. 
"       fedoa.  107,  141,  143,  145. 
•'       Hudsonica,  107,  141,  143, 145,  147. 
Lincoln's  Fincli,  38. 
Linnet,  Pine.  35 

Red-poll,  34,  35. 
Linsley,  Rev.  James  H.,  7,  8,  9,  11,  15,  17. 

25,  27,  35.  36,  37,  43,  48,  49,  51,  53,  63, 

64,  65,  66,  70,  72,  74,  81,  90,  91,  92,  99, 

100,   102,   103,   105,  106,  107,  108,  109, 

113,    115,    116,    118,    120,  121,  122,  123, 

124,    125,   126,    127,  128,  129,  130,  131, 

132,   134,    136,    i;!7,   13S,  143,  144,  146, 

147,  149. 
Little  Blue  Heron,  111. 

•'     White  Egret,  111. 
Lobipes  hyperboreus,  146. 
Lomvia  arra,  13S,  146. 

"       troile,  138,  142,  143,  146. 
Long-billed  Curlew,  109. 

"    .     "      Marsh  Wren,  11. 

"    -tailed  Duck,  126. 

"         "      Jaeger,  131. 

»    Island,  N.  Y.,  9,   23,  32,  37,  43,  65, 

77,    100,    102,   106,   110,    121,    131,  133, 

149. 


Longspur,  Lapland,  36. 
Loon,  Common,  136. 

"      Red-throated,  136. 
Lophophanes  bicolor,  9,  140.  142,  143,  144. 
Lophortj^x  Californicus,  147. 
Loxia  curvirostra,  var.  Americana,  35, 142, 

145. 
Loxia  leucoptera,  35,  142,  146. 
Lybshau,  29. 
Lyme,  New  London  Co.,  Conn.,  9,   16,  23, 

39,  76. 
Lynn,  Mass.,  46,  47,  67,  70,  73,  149. 
Lynnfield,  Mass.,  149. 

M 

Macrorhamphus  griseus,  105,  141,  145. 

Mactra  lateralis,  128. 

Madison,  Conn.,  67,  108. 

Magdeline  Islands,  55. 

Maize  Thieves,  47,  48. 

Mallard  Duck,  115,  123. 

Man-of-war  Bird,  131. 

Maltby  Park,  (near  New  Haven),  Conn., 

12,  21. 
Mareca  Americana,  124,  142,  146. 
Marsh  Hawk,  72,  75,  76. 

"      Wren,  Long-billed,  11,   115. 

"      Short-billed,  11. 
Martha's  Vineyard  Island,  Mass.,  100,  138. 
Maryland  Yellow-throat,  5,  23. 
Maynard,  C  J.,  19,  20,  23,  5*4,  116,  150. 
Maynard's  Sparrow,  36. 
Meadow-lark,  45. 
Meawes,  4. 
Melanerpes  erythrocephalus.  65,  140,  111, 

145. 
Meleagris  gallopavo,   var.   Americana,  4, 

98-9,  147. 
Melospiza  melodia,  38,  41,  140,  141,  145. 
"         Lincoln!,  38,  140. 
"         palustris,  38,  140,  145. 
Meigs,  George,  136 
Merganser,  Common,  128-9. 
Hooded,  129. 
"  Red-breasted,  129. 

Mergulus  alle,  138,  142,  143,  146. 
Mergus  cucculatus,  129,  142,  146. 
■'       merganser,  128-9,  142,  146. 
"       serrator,  129,  142,  146. 
Meriden,  Conn.,  108. 

Merriara,  C.  Hart,  1,  8,  11,  33,  44,  98,  122. 
Merrimack  River,  120. 
Merwin,  C,  92. 
Middlebury,  Vermont,  60,  61. 
Middlctown,   Conn.,   3,  43.  88,    104,    106, 

107,    110,    111,   118.   119,  129,  130,  136, 

137,  138. 
Micropalama  himantopus,  107. 
Milford,  Conn.,   7,  23,  37,  46,  64,  66,  80, 

81,    92,    109,    110,    111,   118,    119,    120, 

122,  125,  127,  135. 
Miller's  Place,  Long  I.«land,  106. 
Milvulus  forficatus,  50,  143. 


i\i)i:x. 


15d 


Mill  H(irk  (near  Xcw  llavcii),  ("onii..  .">'.i. 
Mimus  Caroliiioiisis,  S,  1.;;),  I  (J. 

"       polvu'lottus,  5,  7,  1  10,  IK!.  Ml. 
Minot,  U.  1).,  .")4,  ir)U. 
Mocking-bird.  5,  7. 
Monterey,  (California,  57. 
Molothriis  pecoris,  45,  140,  141,  14r>,  147. 
Morris.  Robert  T.,  :{,  10,  125,  127,  I '29. 
Moses.  Dr..  82. 
Motoeilliilie.  12,  13!). 
Morton.    Thomas,    ('.2.   72,   79,   S.'.,   03,  95, 

9,s,    100,   101,    104.    107,    1 1:!,    liMi,   121, 

123,  124,  148. 
Mount  Carmel.  Conn.,  34,  90. 

"      Holyoke.  Mass  ,'  99. 

"      Nonotuck,  Mass..  53. 

"      Tom,  Mass.,  53,  82,  99. 
Mourning  Warbler,  22-.'!. 
Mouse  Hawk.  75. 
Mniotilta  varia,  12,  13,  139,  144. 
Mud  Hen,  120. 
Murre,  138. 
Museum,  Peabodv  of  Yale  College,  14,  54, 

99. 
Museum  of  Wesleyan  University,   3,   04, 

110.  Ill,  119,  136,  137. 
Myiarchus  crinitus,  50-2,  140,  145. 
Myiodioctes  Canadensis,  27.  139,  144. 
mitratus,  25,  26,  139,  144. 
pusillus,  26,  141. 

N 

Nahant,  Mass.,  73,  149. 
Nashville  Warbler,  14. 
Nauclerus  forflcatus,  5,  76-7. 
Naushon  Island,  Mass.,  100. 
Nelson,  E.  W.,  56. 
Nenortalik,  Greenland,  57. 
New  Canaan,  Conn.,  65. 
"     Haven,   Conn..  3,  7,   10,  11,  12,   13, 
14,   17,   21,   25,   26,   27,   32,  33,  34, 
35,  36,  40,  43,  48,   52,   53,  59,  64, 
65,  66,  72,  74,  80,  85,  87,  88,  90, 
92,   100,   106,   110,    112,    129,    132, 
133,  135. 
"     Haven  Bay,  Conn.,  5. 
"     London,  Conn.,  64,  88,  109. 
"     York  City,  N.  Y.,  35. 
Newhall,  James  R..  47,  73,  149. 
Newton.  Chas.,  111. 

"      '  Dr.,  111. 
Nichols,  Walter  R.,  3,   14,  21,  33,  34,  36, 

104,  105,  110,  113,  136. 
Night  Hawk,  59. 

"      Heron,  Common,  89,  112. 
"  "       Yellow-crowned,  112. 

Northford,  Conn.,  90,  99,  113. 
Northampton,  Mass.,  52,  54. 
North  Haven.  Conn.,  87. 
Norway,  Maine,  54,  149. 
Nova  Scotia,  111. 

Numenius  borealis.  109.  141,  113,  1 J5. 
"         Hudsonicus,  109,  141,  143,  145. 


Nuincnius  Idugiroslri.-;,  1II9,  III.  145. 
Nuniida  niolcagris,  117. 
Nutliatclies,  8,1(1,  19. 
Xuth.itcli,  r.cd-l.ullicd,  10. 

Wliitc-bolliiMJ.  Id. 
Xuttall,   'I'hoina.s,   25,   49,   51,   54,    55.   76, 

78,  91,  95,  96,  97.  100,  101,  149. 
Nyctale  Aeadica   74,  MO,  Ml,  M5. 

"       Tengmalmi,  var.   Kii'lianlsoni.  7.'l, 
142,  143. 
Nyctea  nivea,  72. 

Scandiaca,  72,  142,  1  1.'.. 
Nyctiardea  grisea,  var.  nii'via.  1 12.  MO,  145. 
Xyctiardea  violacea.  1 12. 


Oceanites  (jceanica,  i:'.(),  143,  146. 
Ocklawaha  River,  Fla.,  114. 
G<]demia  Americana,  127.  M2.  146,  117. 
"         fusca,  128,  142,  146. 
"        perspicillata,  128,  142,  146. 
Ogden,  Utah,  IKi. 

Old  Bishop.  Grand  Menan  Island,  N.I!.,  83. 
'•    Squaw,  126. 
"    Wife,  126. 
Oletsko,  29. 
Olive-backed  Thru.sh,  6. 

"    -sided  Flycatcher,  5:!-7. 
Oporornis  agilis,  21,  141,  146. 

formosus.  22-3,  140,  143. 
Orange-crowned  Warbler,  15. 
Orange,  New  Jersey,  50,  51. 
Orchard  Oriole,  46. 
Oriole,  Baltimore,  46. 

"       Orchard.  46. 
Osborne,  Thomas  B.,  3,  4,  7,  8,  10.  1 1,  13, 

14,  15,  16,  17,  21,  23,  30,  32,  33.  38,  39, 

40,  43.  44,  45,  46,  52,  55,  58,  59,  64,  72, 

75,  90,  102,  118,  121,  123,  125,  128,  129, 

130,  132,  136. 
Osprey,  88. 

Ortyx  Virginianus,  100,  141,  145. 
Otters,  4. 
Oven  Bird.  20,  37. 
Otus  vulgaris,  var.  Wilsnnianus,  69,  140, 

141,  145. 
Owls,  3. 
Owl,  Arctic,  73. 

"     Acadian,  74. 

•'     Barn,  66. 

"     Barred,  70-2. 

"     Great  Gray,  70. 

"         "     Horned,  (57-9,  76. 

"     Hawk,  73. 

"     Long-eared,  69. 

"     Mottled,  69. 

"     Richardson's.  73-4. 

"     Saw-whet,  74. 

"     Screech.  69. 

"     Short-earod,  70. 

"     Snowy,  69,  72-3. 
Ox  bird,  1 06. 
Oyster-catcher,  103. 


160 


Paine,  Cbas.  S..  55. 

Pandion  haliaetus,  88-9,  140,  145. 

Parida;,  9,  i:^9. 

Parley's  Park,  Utah,  55. 

Partridges,  4,  100,  101. 

"  Spruce,  1. 

Parus  atricapillus,  8,  9,  139,  141,  144. 

"      Hudsonieiis,  10,  142,  143. 
Patton.  William  H.,  53. 
Pavo  cristatus,  147. 
Parula  Americana,  12,  139,  144. 
Passer  domesticus,  40,  140,  141. 
Passeroulus  princeps,  36,  141,  142,  143. 

"  Savanna,  36,  140,  145. 

Passerella  iliaca,  41,  43,  141,  145. 
Pea  Cock,  144. 
Peabody,  Rev.  Wm.  B.  0.,  10,  45,  64,  86, 

89,  149. 
Peabody  Museum  of  Yale  College,  14,  54. 
Pectoral  Sandpiper,  106. 
Pennant,  Thomas,  81,  107,  114,  127,  148. 
Peregrine  Falcon,  81. 
Petrel,  Leach's,  135. 
"       Wilson's,  136. 
Petrochelidon  lunifrons,  30,  139,  146. 
Pewee,  Common,  52-3. 

"        Wood,  58. 
Phalacrocoracidaj,  130,  139. 
Phalacrocorax  carbo,  147. 

"  graculus,  147. 

Phalarope,  Red,  103. 

"  Wilson's,  103. 

PhalaropodidiB.  103,  139. 
Phalaropus  fulicarius,  103,  141,  143,  146. 
Pheasants,  81,  101. 
Philohela  minor,  103,  140,  141,  145. 
Phoebe-bird,  52. 
Picidaj,  63,  139. 
Pickering,  Charles,  42. 
Picoides  Arcticus,  64,  142,  143,  146. 
Picus  pubescens,  64,  140,  141,  145. 

"      villosus,  64,  140,  141,  145. 
Pigeons,  Common,  4,  5,  93-7. 
"         Domestic,  144. 
"         Passenger,  4,  5,  93-7. 
Wild,  4,  5,  93-7. 
Pied-billed  Dalwhick,  137. 

"    Duck,  127. 
Pigeon  Hawk.  83-4. 
Pileated  Woodpecker,  5,  6:!. 
Pillau,  28. 

Pine-creeping  Warbler,  18-19. 
"    Finch,  34,  35. 
"    Grosbeak,  34. 
"    Linnet,  35. 

"    Swamp    (near   New    Haven),    Conn., 
111.  112. 
Pinicoht  enucleator,  34,  142,  145. 
Pinnated  Grouse,  4,  100-1. 
Pintail  Dvick,  123. 

Pipilo  erythrophthnlmus,  1,'i,  1  If),  1  15. 
Piping  Plover,  102. 


Platygaster,  42. 

Plectrophanes  Lapponicus,  36,  142. 
"  nivalis,  36.  142,  14.'>. 

Plover,  Black-lieUied,  102. 
"       Golden,  102. 
"       Kildeer,  89,  102. 
"       Piping,  102. 
"       Ringneck,  102. 
"       Semipalmated,  102. 
"       Upland,  89,  109. 
"       Wilson's,  102. 
Plumb  Island,  Conn.,  88,  102,  109. 
Plymouth  Harbor,  Mass.,  119. 
Podicipidae,  137,  139. 
Podieeps  Carolinensis,  147. 

"        cornutus,  137,  142,  145. 
cristatus,  137,  142,  145. 
"        griseigena,    var.    HolboUi,    137, 

142,  145. 
"        minor,  147. 
Podilvmbus  podieeps,  137,  140,  145,  147. 
Point  Judith,  R.  I.,  134. 
Pomarine  Jaeger,  1.31. 
Pochard,  125. 
Polo,  Marco,  81. 

Pooecetes  graminius,  37,  140,  145. 
Porphyrio  Martinica,  119,  143,  146. 
Portland,  Maine,  43. 

Portland,  Middlesex  Co.,  Conn.,  3,  6,  7,  8, 
10,  11,  12,  14,  15,  16,  17,  25,  27,  30,34, 
35,  36,  37,  38,  39,  40,  43,  44.  45,  46,  49, 
52,  53,  59,  63,  64,  65,  66,  68,  74,  77,  80, 
83,  84,  85,  86,  87,  88,  93,  102,  103,  104, 
105,   109,   112,    113,    115,  119,  121,  120, 
131,  133,  138. 
Porzana  Carolina,  116,  140,  145. 
"      Jamaicensis,  119,  140,  143. 
"      Noveboracensis,  118,  140,  146. 
Polioptila  casrulea,  8,  140,  14.3,  144. 
Prairie  Chicken,  4,  100. 

"      Warbler,  17. 
Procellariidfe,  135,  139. 
Progne  purpurea,  31,  139,  144. 
Providence,  R.  L,  9,  27,  134. 
Puffinus  major,  136,  142,  146. 

"        obscurus,  146. 
Puget  Sound,  W.  T.,  57. 
Purdie,  H.  A.,  1,   12,   Ki,   22,  25,  27,  31, 

37,  50,  92,  114,  119,  134. 
Purple  Finch,  34. 

"       Gallinula,  119-20. 
"       Martin,  31. 
"       Sandpiper,  106. 
Putnam,  F.  W.,  78,  87,  130,  149. 
Ptarmigan,  White,  73. 
Pyranga  a^stipn,  27,  140,  143,  144. 
"         rul)ra,  27,  139,  144. 


Quail,  Common,  4,  81,  100. 

"       California,  144. 
Querquedula  Carolinensis,  124,  142,  146. 
discors,  124,  142,  146. 


INUKX. 


161 


Quinnipiac  River.  1 1,  :!8,  45,  IOC),  1 15,  rj5. 
Quisealus  major,  48,  146,  117. 

"         purpureus,  46-8,  140,  145. 

R 

Raccoou,  New  Jer.>^ey,  28. 
Racine.  Wi.'sconsiu.  55. 
Rail,  Carolina,  1 1 6. 
"     Clapper.  115 
"     Wack,  1U>. 
"     King.  1 15. 
"     Sora,  116. 
"     Virginia.  115. 
"     Yellow,  118. 
Rallidae,  115,  139. 
Rallus  elegans.  115,  140,  145. 
"      longirostris,  115,  140,  145. 
"      Virginianus,  115,  140,  145. 
Randolph,  Vermont,  55. 
Raski,  29. 
Raven,  5,  45. 
Razor-billed  Auk,  138. 
Recurvirostra  Americana.   103,   107,  141, 

146. 
Reciirvirostridaj,  103,  139. 
Red-bellied  Woodpecker,  65. 
"         "       Nuthatch,  10. 
"    -breasted  Merganser,  129. 
"  "         Sandpiper,  107. 

"  "         Snipe,  105. 

"    Crossbill  35. 
"    -eyed  Vireo.  32. 
"    -headed  Duck.  125. 
"         "         Woodpecker,  65-6. 
"    -necked  Grebe,  137. 
"    Phalarope,  103. 
"    -poll  Linnet,  34,  35. 
"       "      Warbler.  18.  41. 
"    -shouldered  Mawk,  78,  84,  86,  87. 
"    -tailed  Hawk,  68,  69.  78,  85-6. 
"    -throated  Diver,  136. 
"    -winged  Blackbird,  45. 
"  "        Stare,  47. 

Redbird,  Summer,  27. 
Red  River,  23. 
Redstart,  9,  27. 
Reed-bird,  45. 

Regulus  calendula,  8,  141,  144. 
"        cristatus,  14G. 
"        .satrapa.  8.  141,  142,  144,  146. 
"         tricolor,  1  46. 
Reinhardt,  57. 

Richardson,  Sir  John,  55,  92. 
Richardson's  Jaeger,  131. 

Owl.  73-4. 
Rice-bird,  45. 
Ridgway,  Robert,  :'..  26,  35,  37,  43,  55,  56, 

57,  58,  70,  150. 
Ring-billed  Gull,  132. 
Ringneck  Plover,  102. 
Ring-necked  Duck,  125. 
Riverdale,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  23,  25, 
44,  54,  132. 
Trans.  Conn.  Acad.,  Vol.  IV. 


Rhynnhops  nigra,  II (J. 
Robin,  6. 

R(ick])()rt.  M;is^.,   rjn. 
Rocky  Hill,  Conii  ,  112. 
Rose- breasted  (Jro.><beak,  43. 
Roseate  Tern.  133. 
Rough-legged  ll.avk.  S7-S. 

"       -winged  Swallow.  31. 
Rubv-crowned  Ivuiglit,  8. 

"  "    Mts.,  Nevada,  57. 

"       -throated  lliimniiiigl)ird.  62. 
Ruddy  Duck,  128. 
Ruffed  (i rouse,  loO,  10 1. 
Ru.sty  Grackle,  16. 
Rutta,  Andrew,  29. 


Sage,  John  H.,  3,  4,  6,  7,  8,  1 1,  12,  14,  15, 
16,  25,  26,  33.  U,  35,  37,  39,  43,  44.  45, 
46,  49.  50,  53,  59,  63,  64,  65,  66,  74,  80. 
81,  85,93,  98,   103,    104,   105,   107,  108, 
109,  110,  112,   122,    124.   126,   129,  131, 
133. 
Sachem's  Head,  Conn.,  67. 
St.  John's  River,  Fla.,  114. 
Saltonstall  Lake,  111. 
Saltonstall  Ridge,  Conn.,  90. 
Samuels,  Edward  A.,  7,  24,  92,  148,  150. 
Sand-hill  Crane,  1 13-14. 
Sanderling,  107. 
Sandpiper,  Baird's,  107. 
"  Bartramian,  109 

"  Bonaparte's,  106. 

"  Buff-breasted.  109. 

"  Curlew,  106. 

"  Least.  106. 

"  Pectoral.  106. 

"  Purple,  106. 

"  Red-breasted,  107. 

"  Soinipalmated,  105. 

"  Solitarv,  108. 

"  Spotted,  108. 

"  Stilt,  107. 

"  White-rumped,  106. 

Santa  Cruz,  57. 
St.  John's  River,  Fla.,  114. 
Savanna  Sparrow,  36. 
Savin  Rock,  Conn.,  23,  37.  38. 
Saskatchewan,  57,  92. 
Saw-whet  Owl,  74. 
Saugus,  149. 
Saxieolidw,  8,  139. 

Saybrook,  Conn.,  3,  7,  12,  14,  15,  17,  20. 
21.  22,  23,  25,  26,  35,  37,  38,  52,  64.  65, 
70,  88,  92,  101,  102,  103,  106,  107,  109, 
115,   119,   121.    123,    125,  128,  133,  134, 
138. 
Saj'ornis  fu.'scu.s.  52-3,  140,  145. 
Scarlet  Tanager.  27. 
Scaup  Duck,  Greater.  125. 
"  "       Lesser,  125. 

Scldieben,  28. 
Scoleeopliagus  fernigineus,  4<;,  141,  II. 'p. 

21  Oct.,  1877. 


162 


INDEX. 


Scolopacidae,  104,  139. 
Scolopax  rusticola,  104. 
Scops  asio,  69,  140,  141,  145. 
Scoter  Duck,  Black,  127. 

"  "       Common,  128. 

"  "       Velvet,  128. 

Sea  Coot,  1 28. 
'•    Dove,  138. 
"    Swallow,  13:5. 
Seaside  Finch,  38. 
Semipalmated  Plover,  102. 

"  Sandpiper,  105. 

Seiurus  (see  Slums.) 
Setophaga  ruticiUa,  9,  27,  139,  144. 
Seven  Day's  Work,  Grand  Menan  Id.,  83. 
Severn  River,  114. 
Shag,  130. 
Sharp-shinned  Hawk,  78,  85. 

"     -tailed  Finch,  38. 
Shearwater,  Greater,  136. 
Sheldrake;  4,  128. 
Short-eared  Owl,  70. 

"     -tailed  Tern,  135. 
Shoveller,  124. 
Shrike,  Loggerhead.  34. 

"        Northern,  33,  34,  49. 
Shurtleff  Collection  (at  Middletown).  ti4. 
Shores,  Irwin  I.,  3,  4,  7,  8,  11,   12,  14,  16, 

17,  22,  24,  25,  28,  31,  3.3,  37,  38,  40,  53, 

58,  64,  65,  80,  111,  113. 
Short-billed  Marsh  Wren,  1 1. 
Siahasialis,  8,  139,  141,  144. 
Sierra  Nevada,  57. 
Silliman,  Benj.  Jr.,  129. 
Sitta  Canadensis,  8,  10,  142,  144. 

"     Carolinensis,  8,  10,  139,  141,  144. 
Sittidie,   10,  139. 
Siuriis  aiiricapillus,  20,  37,  139,  144. 

"      Ludovicianus,  20. 

"      motacilla,  20-1,  139. 

"      nasvius,  20,  21,  140,  141,  144. 

"      Noveboracensis,  20,  21. 
Sing  Sing,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  23. 
Slate-colored  Snowbird,  39. 
Small  Green-crested  Flycatcher,  58. 
Smith,  Capt.  John,  4,  148. 

"       Fred.  Sumner,  3,  6,  63,  88,  1 1 1. 

"       Prof.  Sidney  I.,  4,  32. 
Smithsonian  Institute,  Washington,  D.C.,  3. 
Snowbird,  Slate-colored,  39. 

"  White,  36. 

Snow  Bunting,  36. 

"      Goose,  121. 

"      Prof.  P.  H.,  56. 
Snipe,  Jack,  106. 

"       Red-breasted,  105. 

"       Wilson's,  105. 
Solitary  Tattler,  108. 

Vireo,  33. 
Solon  Goose,  129. 
Song  Sparrow,  38,  39. 
Somateria  moUissima,  127.  142,  N3,  14<). 
'•  spcctal)ilis,  127,   112,  143,  146. 


Sooty  Tern,  134. 

Sora  Rail,  116. 

South  End  (near  New  Haven),  Conn.,  36. 

"         "     Mass.,  120. 
Southern  Goose,  122. 
Southampton,  Long  Island,  109. 
Southwick  Ponds  (Hartford  Co.),  Conn.,  1 1. 
Sparke,  F.  C,  148. 
"        Michael,  148. 
R.  C,  148. 
Sparrow  Hawk,  84-5. 
"         Chipping,  39,  40. 
"         English,  18,  19,  34,  39,  40-3. 

Field,  19,  39-40. 
"         Fox-colored,  43. 
"         Henslow's,  37. 
"         House,  40-3. 
'•         Ipswich,  36. 
"         Maynard's,  36. 
"         Savanna,  36. 
Song,  38,  39. 
"         Swamp,  38,  39. 
"         Tree,  39. 
"         White-crowned,  40. 
"  "      throated,  40. 

"         Yellow-winged,  37. 
Sphvrapicus  varius,  64,  66,  140,  141,  145. 
Spizella  monticola,  39,  141,  142,  145. 
pusilla,  19,  39,  41,  140,  145. 
"        socialis,  13,  39,  41,  140,  141,  145. 
Spoonbill  Duck,  124. 
Spatula  Clypeata,  124,  142,  146. 
Spotted  Sandpiper,  108. 
Sprigtail,  123. 

Springfield,  Mass.,  7,  67,  149. 
Spruce  Partridge,  1. 
Squatarola  Helvetica,  102,  141,  145. 
Stadtmiiller  Brothers,  3,  4,  10,  12,  27,  33, 

44,  59,  85,  86,  98. 
Stake  Driver,  112. 
Starlings,  45. 

Steganopus  Wilsoni,  103,  143,  145. 
Stelgidopteryx  serripennis,  31,  140,  143. 
Stercorarius  Buffoni,  131.  142.  143. 

"  parasiticus,  131, 142. 143, 146. 

'•  pomatorhinus,  131. 

Sterna  acuflavida,  135. 
"      angliea,  135. 
"      aranea,  135. 
"      cantiaca,  135. 
"      caspia,  135. 
"      Dougalli,  133,  140. 
"      Fosteri,  135. 
"      fuliginosa,  134,  143. 
"      hirundo,  i:!3,   140,  140. 
"      macroura,  1.33,  142,  143. 

paradisea,  133. 
"      regia,  135. 

"      superciliaris,  var.  Antillarum.    134, 
140.  142.  146. 
Stilt  Sandpiper,  !(t7. 
Stocker,  l''b(Mi('/,er  4('). 
StDuingtou,  ('(inn.,  121,  l.'.u,  132,  136,  138. 


16:{ 


Stonv  Creek,  Conn.,  135. 
Stratford,  Conn..  7,  8,    15,  27,  ;?5,  IH,  40, 
5:5,  G.i,  (55,  6t;.  70,  72,  81,  102,  lOf.,  IOC, 
107,  108,    109,    110,    111,    115,  110,  118, 
120,  121,   122,   12:{.    124,    125,  12G,  127, 
129,  l.'iO.   i:V2.    134^    136,   137. 
Strcpsilas  interpres,  103,  141,  145. 
StrigidiV,  66,  139. 
Strix    flanimea.  var.  Americana,   66,  140, 

143,  145 
Strix  Scandiaca,  147. 
"     Virginica,  147. 
SturneUa  magna,  45,  140,  141,  145. 
Suckly,  Dr.,  57. 

Snffieid,  Hartford  Co.,  Conn.,  3,   7,  8,   11, 
12,  14,  16,  17,  22,  24,  25,  28,  31,  33,  38, 
40,  53,  58,  64,  65,  80,  111,  113. 
Sulabassana,  129.  142,  143,  146. 

"     fiber,  130,  143,  146. 
Sulidc-e,  129,  139. 
Surf  Duck,  128. 
Summer  Redbird,  27. 

Duck,  125. 
Surnia  ulula,  var.  Hudsonia,  73,  142,  143. 
Swainson,  55. 
Swainson's  Thrush,  6. 
Swallows,  28,  31   60,  61,  77,  85,  131. 
Swallow,  Bank,  31. 
"  Barn,  28-30. 

ClifE,  30. 
"  Eave,  30. 

"  Rougli-winged,  31. 

"  White-bellied,  30. 

"  -tailed  Flycatcher,  50. 

"      Kite,  5,  76-7. 
Swamp  Sparrow,  38,  39. 
Swampscot,  Mass.,  149. 
Swan,  Trumpeter,  4,  120-21. 

Whistling.  4,  120. 
Swift,  Chimney,  59-62. 
Sylvia  testiva,  147. 
"      auricollis,  147. 
'•      autumnalis,  147. 
"      Blackburnice,  147. 
"      Canadensis,  147. 
"      Castanea,  147. 
"      flava,  147. 
"      parus,  147. 
"      Roscoe,  147. 
"      sphagnosa,  147. 
"      trichas,  147. 
"      trochilus,  147. 
Svlvicolidse,  12,  139. 
Sylviidse,  8,  139. 

Syrnium  cinereura,  70,  142,  143,  145. 
"        nebulosum,  70,  140,  141,  145. 


Tachycineta  bicolor,  30,  139,  144. 
Tachypetes  aquilus,  131,  143. 
Tachvpetidffi,  131,  139. 
Talcott  Mt.  (near  Hartford),  Conn.,  81,  82. 
Tanager,  Scarlet,  27. 


Tanager,  Summer.  27. 
Tauagrida'.  27,  139. 
Tantalidic,  109,  139. 
Tattler,  108. 

"        Solitary,  108. 
Taylor.  Wm.  IL,  14. 
Teal,  4,  115. 
Teal,  Blue-winged.  124. 

•'     Green-winged,  124. 
Telmatodytes  pihistris,  11,  139,  114. 
Tennessee  Warliler,  14. 
Tenney,  Prof.  Sanborn,  134. 
Terns,"  81,  82,  89,  132,  13.3-5. 
Tern,  Arctic,  133. 
"      Black,  135. 
"      Common,  133. 
"      Least,  134. 
"      Roseate,  133. 
"      Short-tailed,  135. 
"      Sooty,  134. 
''      Wilson's,  133. 
Tetraonidie,  100,  139. 
Theodat,  115. 
Thompson,  Dr.  E.  L.  R.,  17,  27,  106. 

"  Zadock,  55,  61,  62,  74,  80,  89, 

90,  99,  113,  125,  149. 
Thrush,  Brown,  8,  24. 

■'        Golden-crowned,  20. 
"        Gray-cheeked,  7. 
"        Hermit,  6. 
"        Large-billed  Water,  20-1. 
"        Olive-backed,  6. 
"        Swainson's,  6. 
''        Water,  20. 
"        Wilson's,  7. 
"        Wood,  6. 
Thrasher,  Brown,  8,  24. 
Thryothorus  Ludoviciauns,  11,  140. 
Tilly,  Joseph,  101. 
Titlark,  12. 

Titmouse,  Black-capped,  9. 
"  Hudsonian,  10. 

Tufted,  9. 
Tom,  Mount,  Mass.,  53,  82,  99. 
Totanus  chloropus.  108,  146. 
"       flavipes,  108,  141,  145. 
"       melanoleucus,  108,  141,  145. 
"       semipalmatus,  108,  140,  145. 
"        solitarius,  lOS,  140,  141,  145. 
Totoket  Mt.,  Conn..  99. 
Towhee  Bunting,  44. 
Traill's  Flycatcher,  58. 
Trenton,  New  Jersey,  50. 
Tringa  alpina,  var.  Americana,  lUO,  141, 
145. 
"       Bairdii,  107. 

canutuf?,  106,  141,  145. 
"       fuscicollis,  106,  141,  145. 
maculata,  106,  141,  145. 
maritmia,  106.  141,  142,  146. 
"       minutilla,  106,  141,  145. 
"        subarquata,  106,  141,  143,  146. 
Tringoides  maeularius,  108,  140,  141,  14,'.. 


164 


INDKX. 


Trippe,  T.  Martin,  23,  50,  52,  56. 
Trochilidse,  62,  139. 
Trochilus  colubris.  62,  140,  ]45. 
Trog-lodytes  aedon,  10,  139,  144. 
Tro^lodytidag,  10,  139. 
Trumbull.  Prof.  J.  Hammond,  43. 
Trumbull,  Fairfield  Co.,  N.  .J.,  35. 
Trumpeter  Swan,  120-1. 
Tr^yngites  rufescens,  109,  146. 
Tufted  Titmouse,  9. 
Turdidte,  6,  139. 
Turdus  fuscescens,  7,  139,  144. 

"       migratorius,  6,  139,  141,  144. 

"       mustelinus,  6,  139,  144. 
Pallas  i,  6,  141,  144. 

'•       Swainsoni,  6,  7,  141. 

'■  "  var.  Alicise,  7,  141. 

Turkey  Buzzard.  91-3. 

"    ■    Wild,  4,  98-9,  100,  101. 
Turnbull,  Wm.  P.,  44,  54,  73,  138,  149. 
Turnstone,  103. 
Turtle  Dove,  94,  98. 
Tyrannidaj,  49,  139. 
Tyrannus  Carolinensis,  49,  140,  145. 

U 

Umbagog  Lake,  Oxford  Co  ,  Me.,  23,  54,  55. 

Upland  Plover,  89,  109. 

Uria  grylle,  138,  146. 

Utamania  torda,  138,  142,  143,  146. 

Usnea,  12. 

V 
Velvet  Scoter.  128. 
Veratrum  album,  47. 
Verrill,  Prof.   A.  E.,   1,   2,  4,  30,  54,  92, 

100,  149. 
Vickery,  112. 
Vireo,  Blue-headed,  33. 

"       flavifrons,  33,  140,  144. 

"       gilvus,  16,  32,  140,  144. 

"       Noveboracensis,  33,  140,  144. 

"       olivaceus,  32,  139,  144. 

"       Philadelphieus,  33. 

"       Red-eyed,  32. 

"       solitarius,  33,  140,  144. 

"       Solitary,  33. 

•'       Warbling,  33. 

"       White-eyed,  33. 

"       Yellow-throated,  33. 
Vireonidif,  32,  139. 
Virgniia  Rail,  1 15. 
Vistula,  2!). 
Vulture,  Black,  93. 

"         Turkey,  91-3,  97. 

W 

Wagtail,  Water,  20. 
Wahsatch  Mts.,  Utah,  56.  116. 
Wallerius,  Dr.,  28. 
Wallingford,  Conn.,  1.31,  1.33,  138. 
Walpolc,  N.  11.,  148. 
Warbler,  Black-and- White,  Creeping,  12. 
"  "    -and- Yellow,  17. 


Warbler,  Black-throated,  Bine,  15. 
"  ■'  '■  Green,  15. 

■'         Black  Viurnian,  16. 
"         Black-poll,  16. 
"         Ray-breasted.  16. 
"        Blue,  Golden-winged,  14. 
"  "      -winged,  Yellow,  1,  14. 

•'  >'      Yellow-backed,  12. 

"         Cferulean,  15-6. 
"         Cape  May,  17. 
"         Canadian  Fly  catching,  27. 
"         Chestnut-sided,  17. 
"         Connecticut,  21-2. 
"         Plycatching,  Canada,  27. 
"  "     Green,  Black-capped,  26. 

"         Green,    Black-capped,  Fly  catch- 
ing, 26. 
Hooded,  1,  25-6. 
"         Kentucky,  22-3. 
'•         Maryland  Yellow-throat,  5,  23. 
"         Mourning,  23-4. 

Nashville,  14. 
"         Orange-crowned,  15. 

Pine-creeping,  18-20. 
"         Prairie,  17. 

Red-poll,  18. 
"        Tennessee,  14. 
"         Worm-eating,  1,  12-3. 

Yellow,  15. 
"  "        -rumped,  16.- 

"  "        -throated,  17. 

Warbhng  Vireo,  16,  32. 
Water  Thrush.  Common,  20. 
"  "         Large-billed,  20-1. 

"      Wagtail,  20. 
Waterton,  Mr.,  91. 
Waterville,  Me.,   149. 
Wauregan,  Windliam  Co.,  Conn.,  50. 
Waxwing,  P)ohemian,  32. 

Common,  32. 
Weber  River,  Utah,  56. 
Welch,  Mr ,  54. 
Wendell,  Robert,  120. 
Westbrook,  Conn.,  92,  93,  103,  125,  127. 
Wesleyan  University,  3. 
Westford,  Conn.,  140. 
West  Haven,  Conn.,  65,  125. 
Wheaton,  Dr.  J.  M.,  54,  127. 
Wheeler,  Lieut.  Geo.  M.,  56. 
Whelpley,  Dr.  J.  D.,  12,  25,  65,  72,  129. 
Whippoorwill,  59. 
Whistler,  126. 
Whistling  Swan,  120. 
White-bellied  Swallow.  :!0. 
'•  '■       Nuthatch,  10. 

'•     -crowned  Sparrow,  40. 
"     -eyed  Vireo,  33. 
"     Egret,  Great,  HI. 
"         •'       Little,  HI. 
"     Ibis,  110. 

■'     -rumped  Sandpiper,  106. 
"     -tliroated  Sparrow,  40. 
"     -winged  Coot,  128. 


INDKX. 


\v>r, 


Wliite-winged  Crossbill,  35. 

Whitman,  G.  R.,  119. 

"Whitnov  Jjiikos  (near  New  Haven),  Conn., 

7,  lib,  111,  112.  120,  124. 
Whitney,  Prof.  Wm.  D.,  15,  14,  27,  52,  54, 

80,  99. 
Whoopinp;  Crane,  113. 
AViddowes,  a.,  148. 
Widgeon,  124. 
Wild  Pigeon,  93-7. 
"     Turkey,  4,  98-9,  100,  101. 
"     Goose',  122. 
Williams,  Samuel,  31,  GO,  01,  77,  94,  113, 

148. 
Willet,  108. 
Wilson,  Alexander,  22,  23,  25,  92,  95,  9(5, 

97,  116,  148. 
Wilson,  Edmond  B..  3,  8. 
Wilson's  Petrel,  136. 
"         Phalarope,  103. 
"         Plover,  102. 
"         Snipe,  105. 
"         Tern,  133. 
"        Thrush,  7. 
Windsor,  Conn.,  30. 

"       Hill,  Conn.,  see  East  Windsor  Hill. 
Winter  Hawk,  87. 
"       Wren,  11. 
Witkowski  (Amtman),  28. 
Wood.   Dr.  WiUiam,  2,  3,   11,   12,  32,  35, 
52,  64.  65,  66,  61,  71,  72,  73,  74,  75,  78, 
80.  81,  82,  83,  84,  86,  87,  88,  89,  92,  99, 
111,    120,   121,   123,    124,  126,  127,  128, 
129,  132,  137,  138. 
Wood,  Wilham  (of  1634),  62,  91,  148. 
"      Duck,  125. 
"      Pewee,  58. 
"      Thrush.  6. 
Woodcock,  104. 

Woodpecker,  Black-backed-Three-toed,  64. 
"  Downy,  64. 


Wt)odpecker.  tiolden-wiiigod,  <)6. 
"  Hairy,  64. 

Pileated,  5.  63. 
"  Rpd-licllicd,  65. 

''  "   -iieadi'd,  (;5-i;. 

"         Yellow-bollied,  61- 
Wren,  Great  (-aroHua,  11. 
"       House,  10. 
"       Long-billed  Marsh,  11. 
"       Short-    "  "        11. 

"       Winter,  11. 


Xema  Sabini,  135. 


Yaffle,  66. 

Yarmouth,  Nova  Scotia,  70,  149. 

Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher,  59. 

"  ■'        Woodpecker,  64,  66. 

"     -breasted  Chat,  1,  24. 

"    -crowned  Night  Heron,  112. 

"     -legs.  Greater,  108. 

"       ■'      Lesser,  108. 

"     Hammer,  66. 

"     Rail,  119. 

"     -ruraped  Warl^ler,  16. 

'•     -throated  Vireo,  33. 

"  "         Warbler,  17. 

"     Warbler,  15. 

"     -winged  Sparrow,  37. 
Yellowbird,  Common,  36. 
Y^ellowstone  Lake,  Wy.  Ter.,  108. 

•'  National  Park,  114. 

Yukon  River,  Alaska.  1 14. 


Zena?dura  Carolincusis,  98,  140,  141,  145. 
Zizania  aquatica,  48. 

Zonotrichia  albicollis,  40.  41,  141,  142,  145. 
"  leucophrys,  40,  141,  142,  145. 


ERRATA    AND    ADDENDA. 


.3d  page,  20  lines  from  top,  for  Robert  F.  read  Robert  T. 
5th  page,     7  lines  from  top,  for  migratoria  read  migratorius. 
7th  page,  2 1  lines  from  top,  for  Wm.  Brewster  read  H.  A.  Purdie. 
28th  page,  10  lines  from  top,  for  [  read  (. 
9Hd   page,  1 5  lines  from  top,  for  migratoria  read  migratorius. 
108th  page,  14  lines  from  top,  for  shanlis  read  shanks. 
122d    page,  32  lines  from  top,  for  233-i  read  232-\ 

I  have  recently  learned  that  the  Hudsonian  Curlew  [Numenius  Hudsonicus^  p.  109) 
has  occurred  along  the  coast  this  year  in  such  numbers  as  to  render  the  term  "  rare  " 
incorrect.  Mr.  Geo.  Bird  Grinnell  writes:  "  My  brother  killed  Numenius  Iludsonicus 
July  2()th,  1877  [near  Milford,  Conn.].  He  saw  sixteen  birds  of  that  species  on  that 
day;  twelve  in  one  flock,  and  two  pairs.  Others  were  seen  later  in  July  by  other 
parties."  I  am  informed  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Sage  that  two  specimens  of  this  species  were 
killed,  near  Saybrook,  Conn.,  August  27th,  1877. 


\ 


i 


